Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho
Lesotho: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 173,345 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
173,345
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
55th
of 181 countries
All-time high
215,467
in 1999
All-time low
65,401
in 2006
Years of data
44
1971–2024
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho is 173,345, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 139.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho peaked at 215,467 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 65,401, in 2006.
Lesotho ranks 55th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 112,121 | — |
| 1973 | 112,261 | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 104,005 | -7.4% |
| 1978 | 107,722 | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 107,887 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 113,339 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 115,533 | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 108,611 | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 112,699 | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 123,643 | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 120,306 | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 132,813 | +10.4% |
| 1991 | 139,750 | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 145,715 | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 163,900 | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 166,115 | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 179,670 | +8.2% |
| 1998 | 211,728 | +17.8% |
| 1999 | 215,467 | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 139,644 | -35.2% |
| 2001 | 125,059 | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 111,899 | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 95,373 | -14.8% |
| 2004 | 91,418 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 77,563 | -15.2% |
| 2006 | 65,401 | -15.7% |
| 2007 | 74,456 | +13.8% |
| 2008 | 68,931 | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 69,053 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 65,718 | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 65,916 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 67,276 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 66,035 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 72,390 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 79,250 | +9.5% |
| 2016 | 84,121 | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 78,399 | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 102,570 | +30.8% |
| 2019 | 114,928 | +12.0% |
| 2020 | 125,935 | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 153,993 | +22.3% |
| 2022 | 155,765 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 165,623 | +6.3% |
| 2024 | 173,345 | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 108,799 | 104,005 | 112,261 | 5 |
| 1980s | 118,135 | 108,611 | 132,813 | 7 |
| 1990s | 174,621 | 139,750 | 215,467 | 7 |
| 2000s | 91,880 | 65,401 | 139,644 | 10 |
| 2010s | 79,660 | 65,718 | 114,928 | 10 |
| 2020s | 154,932 | 125,935 | 173,345 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 52 Kazakhstan 199,121 compare
- 53 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 175,306 compare
- 54 El Salvador 174,596 compare
- 56 Paraguay 162,400 compare
- 57 Canada 143,743 compare
- 58 Nicaragua 119,524 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 out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho?
- Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Lesotho was 173,345 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 215,467 in 1999.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,401 in 2006.
- How does Lesotho rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
- Lesotho ranks 55th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release