Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female (%) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female (%) was 68.1% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female in Lesotho, 1970–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female in Lesotho is 68.1%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 45.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female in Lesotho peaked at 68.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 1971.
That places Lesotho 165th out of 212 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, female (%) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12.8% | — |
| 1971 | 7.9% | -38.6% |
| 1972 | 8.7% | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 11.1% | +27.8% |
| 1975 | 13.2% | +18.1% |
| 1976 | 14.2% | +7.6% |
| 1977 | 15.0% | +6.3% |
| 1978 | 15.2% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 18.5% | +21.5% |
| 1980 | 19.7% | +6.2% |
| 1981 | 21.5% | +9.5% |
| 1982 | 22.0% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 24.5% | +11.6% |
| 1984 | 24.9% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 25.3% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 26.1% | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 29.0% | +10.9% |
| 1988 | 30.0% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 29.5% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 29.2% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 28.0% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 29.5% | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 30.1% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 32.5% | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 32.9% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 33.7% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 33.8% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 32.7% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 32.3% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 33.6% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 34.8% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 35.6% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 38.2% | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 40.8% | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 42.7% | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 46.9% | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 51.0% | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 56.8% | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 62.8% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 65.9% | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 68.1% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 65.9% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 66.7% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 67.8% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 65.1% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 68.1% | +4.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 68.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.5%, 97% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 68.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.9%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female (%) 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 | -38.6% | 12.8% | 7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.0% | 7.9% | 18.5% | 9 |
| 1980s | 25.3% | 19.7% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.4% | 28.0% | 33.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 41.3% | 32.3% | 56.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.3% | 62.8% | 68.1% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 162 Bangladesh 70.5% compare
- 163 Saint Helena 69.8% compare
- 164 El Salvador 68.8% compare
- 166 Lebanon 67.5% compare
- 167 Cote d'Ivoire 64.5% compare
- 168 Cambodia 63.1% 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, female in Lesotho?
- Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female in Lesotho was 68.1% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 68.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 1971.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female?
- Lesotho ranks 165th out of 212 countries with data for 2017.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, secondary, female rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.2%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release