Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary … both sexes UIS in Lesotho
Lesotho: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary … both sexes UIS was 2,661 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Lesotho, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Lesotho is 2,661, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 5.9% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Lesotho peaked at 4,711 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 974, in 1998.
Lesotho ranks 159th of 210 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary … both sexes UIS in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 974 | — |
| 1999 | 1,270 | +30.4% |
| 2000 | 1,794 | +41.3% |
| 2001 | 2,074 | +15.6% |
| 2002 | 3,718 | +79.3% |
| 2003 | 4,711 | +26.7% |
| 2004 | 4,429 | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 4,170 | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 3,986 | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 4,047 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 4,474 | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 4,405 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 4,505 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 4,421 | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 2,928 | -33.8% |
| 2013 | 2,915 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 2,945 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 2,795 | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 3,065 | +9.7% |
| 2017 | 3,059 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 3,060 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2,954 | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 2,618 | -11.4% |
| 2021 | 2,402 | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 2,513 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 2,661 | +5.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2,661 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11,955, 22% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2,661 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,852, 34% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary … both sexes UIS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +79.3% | 2,074 | 3,718 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,122 | 974 | 1,270 | 2 |
| 2000s | 3,781 | 1,794 | 4,711 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,265 | 2,795 | 4,505 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,548 | 2,402 | 2,661 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 156 East Timor 2,794 compare
- 157 Central African Republic 2,723 compare
- 158 South Sudan 2,663 compare
- 160 Botswana 2,635 compare
- 161 Iceland 2,575 compare
- 162 Fiji 2,564 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 total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Lesotho?
- Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Lesotho was 2,661 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 4,711 in 2003.
- What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 974 in 1998.
- How does Lesotho rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
- Lesotho ranks 159th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release