Average years of schooling in Lesotho
Lesotho: Average years of schooling was 6.88 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
6.88 years
World rank
86th
of 111 countries
All-time high
7.21 years
in 2005
All-time low
0.03 years
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in Lesotho, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling in Lesotho is 6.88 years, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Lesotho peaked at 7.21 years in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.03 years, in 1870.
Lesotho ranks 86th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.03 years | — |
| 1875 | 0.05 years | +66.7% |
| 1880 | 0.07 years | +40.0% |
| 1885 | 0.1 years | +42.9% |
| 1890 | 0.15 years | +50.0% |
| 1895 | 0.22 years | +46.7% |
| 1900 | 0.3 years | +36.4% |
| 1905 | 0.38 years | +26.7% |
| 1910 | 0.53 years | +39.5% |
| 1915 | 0.64 years | +20.8% |
| 1920 | 0.76 years | +18.8% |
| 1925 | 1.16 years | +52.6% |
| 1930 | 1.42 years | +22.4% |
| 1935 | 1.6 years | +12.7% |
| 1940 | 1.87 years | +16.9% |
| 1945 | 2.2 years | +17.6% |
| 1950 | 2.6 years | +18.2% |
| 1955 | 2.87 years | +10.4% |
| 1960 | 3.12 years | +8.7% |
| 1965 | 3.44 years | +10.3% |
| 1970 | 3.72 years | +8.1% |
| 1975 | 4.11 years | +10.5% |
| 1980 | 4.49 years | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 4.81 years | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 5.25 years | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 5.8 years | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 6.37 years | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 7.21 years | +13.2% |
| 2010 | 6.08 years | -15.7% |
| 2015 | 6.44 years | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 6.88 years | +6.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 6.88 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.23 years, 95% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 6.88 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.27 years, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.04 years | 0.03 years | 0.05 years | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.085 years | 0.07 years | 0.1 years | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.185 years | 0.15 years | 0.22 years | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.34 years | 0.3 years | 0.38 years | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.585 years | 0.53 years | 0.64 years | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.96 years | 0.76 years | 1.16 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.51 years | 1.42 years | 1.6 years | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.04 years | 1.87 years | 2.2 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.74 years | 2.6 years | 2.87 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.28 years | 3.12 years | 3.44 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.92 years | 3.72 years | 4.11 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.65 years | 4.49 years | 4.81 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.53 years | 5.25 years | 5.8 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.79 years | 6.37 years | 7.21 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.26 years | 6.08 years | 6.44 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.88 years | 6.88 years | 6.88 years | 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 average years of schooling in Lesotho?
- Average years of schooling in Lesotho was 6.88 years in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 7.21 years in 2005.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.03 years in 1870.
- How does Lesotho rank for average years of schooling?
- Lesotho ranks 86th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.