Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lesotho
Lesotho: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 90.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
90.7%
World rank
50th
of 87 countries
All-time high
97.3%
in 2016
All-time low
65.3%
in 2006
Years of data
6
2000–2024
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 90.7% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lesotho peaked at 97.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 65.3%, in 2006.
That places Lesotho 50th out of 87 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 86.5% | — |
| 2006 | 65.3% | -24.4% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | +48.9% |
| 2018 | 86.9% | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 92.2% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 90.7% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 75.9% | 65.3% | 86.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 92.1% | 86.9% | 97.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 90.7% | 90.7% | 90.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 47 Iran, Islamic Republic of 91.7% compare
- 48 El Salvador 91.2% compare
- 49 Cape Verde 91.2% compare
- 51 Honduras 89.6% compare
- 52 Tunisia 89.5% compare
- 53 Namibia 88.8% compare
More education data for Lesotho
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 136,497 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.99 % change on previous year (2017)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 10,388 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 78,318 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 6.2 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 58,179 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.72 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 46,622 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lesotho?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lesotho was 90.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.3% in 2006.
- How does Lesotho rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Lesotho ranks 50th out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release