Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho

Lesotho: Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age was 35.2% in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
35.2%
World rank
15th
of 38 countries
All-time high
35.2%
in 2023
All-time low
23.2%
in 2018
Years of data
5
2005–2023

Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho, 2005–2023

0102030402005201420232005: 31.9 %2009: 27.6 %2014: 28.9 %2018: 23.2 %2023: 35.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho is 35.2%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 21.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho peaked at 35.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 23.2%, in 2018.

That places Lesotho 15th out of 38 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, poorest quintile, both sexes (household survey data) (%) in Lesotho, 2005 to 2023.
Year % Change
2005 31.9%
2009 27.6% -13.4%
2014 28.9% +4.6%
2018 23.2% -19.7%
2023 35.2% +51.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 29.7% 27.6% 31.9% 2
2010s 26.0% 23.2% 28.9% 2
2020s 35.2% 35.2% 35.2% 1

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 12 Zimbabwe 37.7% compare
  2. 13 Cameroon 37.0% compare
  3. 14 Gambia 36.7% compare
  4. 16 Ghana 26.7% compare
  5. 17 Sierra Leone 25.0% compare
  6. 18 Bangladesh 20.1% compare

See the full ranking of 38 places →

More education data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho?
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho was 35.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 35.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 23.2% in 2018.
How does Lesotho rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
Lesotho ranks 15th out of 38 countries with data for 2023.
Is out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, poorest quintile, both sexes (household survey data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-rate-for-adolescents-of-lower-secondary-school-age-poorest-quintile-both-2/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, poorest quintile, both sexes (household survey data) (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
38 places, 416 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release