Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes (%) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes (%) was 59.4% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes in Lesotho, 1970–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 59.4% for gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes in 2017.
That represents a change of up 4.4% on the previous year and up 42.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes in Lesotho peaked at 59.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 1971.
That places Lesotho 170th out of 213 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes (%) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.7% | — |
| 1971 | 7.4% | -36.5% |
| 1972 | 8.0% | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 10.7% | +32.5% |
| 1975 | 12.0% | +12.2% |
| 1976 | 12.6% | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 13.2% | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 13.3% | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 15.6% | +17.5% |
| 1980 | 16.6% | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 18.0% | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 18.5% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 20.3% | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 20.9% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 21.4% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 21.9% | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 23.7% | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 24.6% | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 24.7% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 24.4% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 23.8% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 24.9% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 25.6% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 27.6% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 28.8% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 28.4% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 29.3% | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 28.7% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 28.8% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 28.8% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 30.3% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 31.2% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 32.0% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 34.4% | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 36.8% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 38.4% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 41.6% | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 44.8% | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 49.2% | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 54.2% | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 57.0% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 59.1% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 57.8% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 58.3% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 59.4% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 56.8% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 59.4% | +4.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 59.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 64.8%, 92% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 59.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.9%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes (%) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -36.5% | 11.7% | 7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.6% | 7.4% | 15.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 21.1% | 16.6% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.0% | 23.8% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.7% | 28.8% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.7% | 54.2% | 59.4% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 167 Togo 63.4% compare
- 168 San Marino 60.4% compare
- 169 Afghanistan 59.6% compare
- 171 Cambodia 58.8% compare
- 172 Zambia 56.8% compare
- 173 Democratic Republic of Congo 55.5% compare
More education data for Lesotho
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5,672 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 30,627 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 22,924 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 23,698 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 136,497 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 309,480 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8093 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1324 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes in Lesotho?
- Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes in Lesotho was 59.4% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 1971.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes?
- Lesotho ranks 170th out of 213 countries with data for 2017.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release