Literacy in Lesotho
Lesotho: Literacy was 90.45 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
90.45
World rank
47th
of 89 countries
All-time high
97.27
in 2016
All-time low
66.1
in 2006
Years of data
6
2000–2024
Literacy in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 90.45 for literacy in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy in Lesotho peaked at 97.27 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 66.1, in 2006.
Lesotho ranks 47th of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 86.25 | — |
| 2006 | 66.1 | -23.4% |
| 2016 | 97.27 | +47.2% |
| 2018 | 86.24 | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 92.4 | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 90.45 | -2.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 90.45 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.16, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 90.45 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 1.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 76.17 | 66.1 | 86.25 | 2 |
| 2010s | 91.97 | 86.24 | 97.27 | 3 |
| 2020s | 90.45 | 90.45 | 90.45 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 44 Sri Lanka 92.74 compare
- 45 South Africa 91.15 compare
- 46 Thailand 91.1 compare
- 48 El Salvador 89.77 compare
- 49 Iran 88.92 compare
- 50 Cape Verde 88.47 compare
More education data for Lesotho
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 68.25 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 67.83 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy in Lesotho?
- Literacy in Lesotho was 90.45 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 97.27 in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1 in 2006.
- How does Lesotho rank for literacy?
- Lesotho ranks 47th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).