Literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho
Lesotho: Literacy rate, adult male was 83.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of males ages 15 and above.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho stood at 83.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho peaked at 95.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 56.6%, in 2006.
That places Lesotho 62nd out of 88 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 80.0% | — |
| 2006 | 56.6% | -29.2% |
| 2016 | 95.9% | +69.5% |
| 2018 | 80.2% | -16.4% |
| 2019 | 87.6% | +9.1% |
| 2024 | 83.2% | -5.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 83.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 83.7%, 99% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 83.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.2%, 1.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.3% | 56.6% | 80.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 87.9% | 80.2% | 95.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 83.2% | 83.2% | 83.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho?
- Literacy rate, adult male in Lesotho was 83.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 95.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.6% in 2006.
- How does Lesotho rank for literacy rate, adult male?
- Lesotho ranks 62nd out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, adult male rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.