Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho
Lesotho: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions was 48.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho is 48.3%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho peaked at 51.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 48.3%, in 2023.
Lesotho ranks 136th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 51.8% | — |
| 1999 | 51.7% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 50.6% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 50.1% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 50.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 49.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 49.6% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 49.6% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 49.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 49.1% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 48.8% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 48.9% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 49.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 48.9% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 48.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 49.9% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 48.9% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 48.3% | -1.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 48.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 48.6%, 99% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 48.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.5%, 100% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.8% | 51.7% | 51.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 49.4% | 50.6% | 7 |
| 2010s | 49.1% | 48.8% | 49.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 48.6% | 48.3% | 48.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 133 Nicaragua 48.3% compare
- 134 Thailand 48.3% compare
- 135 Montenegro 48.3% compare
- 137 Republic of Moldova 48.3% compare
- 138 Denmark 48.3% compare
- 139 Philippines 48.3% 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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Lesotho was 48.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 51.8% in 1998.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.3% in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions?
- Lesotho ranks 136th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. 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 Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release