Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita in Lesotho
Lesotho: Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita was 90.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
90.5%
World rank
47th
of 89 countries
All-time high
97.3%
in 2016
All-time low
66.1%
in 2006
Years of data
6
2000–2024
Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho stood at 90.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho peaked at 97.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 2006.
That places Lesotho 47th out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 86.2% | — |
| 2006 | 66.1% | -23.4% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | +47.2% |
| 2018 | 86.2% | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 92.4% | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 90.5% | -2.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 90.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 90.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 1.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 76.2% | 66.1% | 86.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 92.0% | 86.2% | 97.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 90.5% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 44 Sri Lanka 92.7% compare
- 45 South Africa 91.2% compare
- 46 Thailand 91.1% compare
- 48 El Salvador 89.8% compare
- 49 Iran 88.9% compare
- 50 Cape Verde 88.5% 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 literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho?
- Literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho was 90.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate vs. gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 2006.
- How does Lesotho rank for literacy rate vs. gdp per capita?
- Lesotho ranks 47th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.