Out-of-school children of primary school age, female in Lesotho
Lesotho: Out-of-school children of primary school age, female was 60,997 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
60,997
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
55th
of 180 countries
All-time high
81,957
in 1999
All-time low
19,527
in 1977
Years of data
52
1970–2024
Out-of-school children of primary school age, female in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children of primary school age, female in Lesotho is 60,997, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 147.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children of primary school age, female in Lesotho peaked at 81,957 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 19,527, in 1977.
Lesotho ranks 55th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Out-of-school children of primary school age, female in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24,197 | — |
| 1972 | 29,910 | +23.6% |
| 1973 | 30,701 | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 21,620 | -29.6% |
| 1976 | 21,353 | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 19,527 | -8.6% |
| 1978 | 28,962 | +48.3% |
| 1979 | 27,837 | -3.9% |
| 1980 | 29,741 | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 32,044 | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 28,661 | -10.6% |
| 1983 | 32,403 | +13.1% |
| 1984 | 34,053 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 34,099 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 37,906 | +11.2% |
| 1987 | 31,289 | -17.5% |
| 1988 | 32,792 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 37,375 | +14.0% |
| 1990 | 42,568 | +13.9% |
| 1991 | 42,882 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 45,628 | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 53,060 | +16.3% |
| 1994 | 55,268 | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 61,425 | +11.1% |
| 1996 | 62,354 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 77,186 | +23.8% |
| 1999 | 81,957 | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 42,791 | -47.8% |
| 2001 | 37,310 | -12.8% |
| 2002 | 31,868 | -14.6% |
| 2003 | 26,964 | -15.4% |
| 2004 | 27,534 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 24,504 | -11.0% |
| 2006 | 19,818 | -19.1% |
| 2007 | 23,455 | +18.4% |
| 2008 | 21,782 | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 22,545 | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 22,362 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 22,502 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 22,256 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 21,735 | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 24,633 | +13.3% |
| 2015 | 26,521 | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 25,770 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 24,148 | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 33,501 | +38.7% |
| 2019 | 35,589 | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 43,338 | +21.8% |
| 2021 | 55,099 | +27.1% |
| 2022 | 54,487 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 57,586 | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 60,997 | +5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25,513 | 19,527 | 30,701 | 8 |
| 1980s | 33,036 | 28,661 | 37,906 | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,036 | 42,568 | 81,957 | 9 |
| 2000s | 27,857 | 19,818 | 42,791 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,902 | 21,735 | 35,589 | 10 |
| 2020s | 54,301 | 43,338 | 60,997 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 52 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 66,961 compare
- 53 Equatorial Guinea 62,954 compare
- 54 Uzbekistan 61,295 compare
- 56 Canada 60,948 compare
- 57 Iran, Islamic Republic of 60,444 compare
- 58 Morocco 55,174 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 of primary school age, female in Lesotho?
- Out-of-school children of primary school age, female in Lesotho was 60,997 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children of primary school age, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 81,957 in 1999.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children of primary school age, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,527 in 1977.
- How does Lesotho rank for out-of-school children of primary school age, female?
- Lesotho ranks 55th out of 180 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school children of primary school age, female rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 147.6%. 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 Out-of-school children of primary school age, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release