School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Lesotho
Lesotho: School enrollment, secondary (% gross) was 59.4% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, secondary in Lesotho, 1970–2017
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
In 2017, school enrollment, secondary in Lesotho stood at 59.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 42.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, secondary in Lesotho peaked at 59.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 1971.
Lesotho ranks 161st of 203 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.7% | — |
| 1971 | 7.4% | -36.5% |
| 1972 | 8.0% | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 10.7% | +32.5% |
| 1975 | 12.0% | +12.2% |
| 1976 | 12.6% | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 13.2% | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 13.3% | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 15.6% | +17.5% |
| 1980 | 16.6% | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 18.0% | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 18.5% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 20.3% | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 20.9% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 21.4% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 21.9% | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 23.7% | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 24.6% | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 24.7% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 24.4% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 23.8% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 24.9% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 25.6% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 27.6% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 28.8% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 28.4% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 29.3% | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 28.7% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 28.8% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 28.8% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 30.3% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 31.2% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 32.0% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 34.4% | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 36.8% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 38.4% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 41.6% | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 44.8% | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 49.2% | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 54.2% | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 57.0% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 59.1% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 57.8% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 58.3% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 59.4% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 56.8% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 59.4% | +4.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 59.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 64.8%, 92% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 59.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.9%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -36.5% | 11.7% | 7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.6% | 7.4% | 15.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 21.1% | 16.6% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.0% | 23.8% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.7% | 28.8% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.7% | 54.2% | 59.4% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 158 El Salvador 62.1% compare
- 159 San Marino 60.4% compare
- 160 Afghanistan 59.6% compare
- 162 Cambodia 58.8% compare
- 163 Zambia 56.8% compare
- 164 Democratic Republic of Congo 55.5% 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 school enrollment, secondary in Lesotho?
- School enrollment, secondary in Lesotho was 59.4% in 2017, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, secondary recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, secondary recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 1971.
- How does Lesotho rank for school enrollment, secondary?
- Lesotho ranks 161st out of 203 countries with data for 2017.
- Is school enrollment, secondary rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, secondary (% 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. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.