Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 31.28 headcount basis in 2023. ▼ Falling
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Lesotho, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Lesotho is 31.28 headcount basis, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Lesotho peaked at 68.67 headcount basis in 2003 and was at its lowest, 31.28 headcount basis, in 2023.
That places Lesotho 40th out of 139 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 56.84 headcount basis | — |
| 2000 | 64.54 headcount basis | +13.6% |
| 2001 | 63.28 headcount basis | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 64.75 headcount basis | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 68.67 headcount basis | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 65.26 headcount basis | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 65.31 headcount basis | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 61.14 headcount basis | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 51.8 headcount basis | -15.3% |
| 2008 | 61.46 headcount basis | +18.6% |
| 2009 | 58.6 headcount basis | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 53.29 headcount basis | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 50.98 headcount basis | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 50.45 headcount basis | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 45.29 headcount basis | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 43.25 headcount basis | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 41.8 headcount basis | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 39.01 headcount basis | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 38.01 headcount basis | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 34.87 headcount basis | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 33.51 headcount basis | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 32.21 headcount basis | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 32.1 headcount basis | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 31.28 headcount basis | -2.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 31.28 headcount basis is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.08 headcount basis, 84% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 31.28 headcount basis is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.63 headcount basis, 72% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.84 headcount basis | 56.84 headcount basis | 56.84 headcount basis | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.48 headcount basis | 51.8 headcount basis | 68.67 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.11 headcount basis | 34.87 headcount basis | 53.29 headcount basis | 9 |
| 2020s | 32.28 headcount basis | 31.28 headcount basis | 33.51 headcount basis | 4 |
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 pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Lesotho?
- Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Lesotho was 31.28 headcount basis in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 68.67 headcount basis in 2003.
- What is the lowest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.28 headcount basis in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education?
- Lesotho ranks 40th out of 139 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. 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 Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release