Primary education, pupils in Lesotho
Lesotho: Primary education, pupils was 48.9% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Primary education, pupils in Lesotho, 1970–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Lesotho is 48.9%, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Lesotho peaked at 59.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 48.9%, in 2011.
That places Lesotho 59th out of 203 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 47 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % female | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 59.9% | — |
| 1972 | 59.9% | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 59.6% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 59.6% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 59.0% | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 58.9% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 59.2% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 59.1% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 58.6% | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 57.9% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 57.0% | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 56.5% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 55.9% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 55.6% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 55.5% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 55.5% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 55.3% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 55.0% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 54.7% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 54.7% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 54.1% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 53.5% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 52.9% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 52.5% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 52.4% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 51.9% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 51.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 51.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 50.6% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 50.2% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 50.1% | -0.3% |
| 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% |
| 2008 | 49.4% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 49.6% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 49.1% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 48.9% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 49.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 48.9% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 48.9% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 48.9% | -0.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 48.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 48.6%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 48.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.4% | 58.9% | 59.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 56.3% | 55.0% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.0% | 51.7% | 54.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.8% | 49.4% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.0% | 48.9% | 49.1% | 8 |
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 primary education, pupils in Lesotho?
- Primary education, pupils in Lesotho was 48.9% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 59.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.9% in 2011.
- How does Lesotho rank for primary education, pupils?
- Lesotho ranks 59th out of 203 countries with data for 2017.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.