School enrollment, primary in Lesotho
Lesotho: School enrollment, primary was 80.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
School enrollment, primary in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary in Lesotho is 80.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Lesotho peaked at 130.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 80.2%, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 194th out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
School enrollment, primary in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 90.1% | — |
| 1971 | 86.2% | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 86.8% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 90.5% | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 103.1% | +14.0% |
| 1975 | 102.8% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 100.6% | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 100.4% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 98.9% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 99.1% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 99.7% | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 101.7% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 105.0% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 105.0% | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 103.5% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 104.9% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 102.5% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 107.4% | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 108.2% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 105.9% | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 103.7% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 103.7% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 101.6% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 97.1% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 98.2% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 99.3% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 97.1% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 94.9% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 95.5% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 95.3% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 109.0% | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 112.8% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 116.7% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 122.5% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 124.3% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 125.9% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 130.0% | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 124.0% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 122.5% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 119.6% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 118.6% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 117.2% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 115.3% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 110.5% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 107.8% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 105.2% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 104.2% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 105.6% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 96.0% | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 91.3% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 87.7% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 85.0% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 83.6% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 81.6% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 80.2% | -1.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 80.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 102.7%, 78% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 80.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.4%, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 95.8% | 86.2% | 103.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 104.4% | 99.7% | 108.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 98.6% | 94.9% | 103.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 120.7% | 109.0% | 130.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 107.2% | 91.3% | 118.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.6% | 80.2% | 87.7% | 5 |
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 school enrollment, primary in Lesotho?
- School enrollment, primary in Lesotho was 80.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 130.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.2% in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Lesotho ranks 194th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.