Average years of schooling in Lesotho
Lesotho: Average years of schooling was 6.01 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Lesotho, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling in Lesotho is 6.01 years, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Lesotho peaked at 6.85 years in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
That places Lesotho 125th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1262 years | +26.2% |
| 1900 | 0.2523 years | +100.0% |
| 1913 | 0.5383 years | +113.3% |
| 1925 | 0.9757 years | +81.3% |
| 1929 | 1.19 years | +22.4% |
| 1933 | 1.35 years | +12.7% |
| 1938 | 1.57 years | +16.9% |
| 1950 | 2.19 years | +39.0% |
| 1955 | 2.41 years | +10.0% |
| 1960 | 2.6 years | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 2.84 years | +9.3% |
| 1970 | 3.11 years | +9.5% |
| 1975 | 3.43 years | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 3.78 years | +10.2% |
| 1985 | 4.03 years | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 4.4 years | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 4.86 years | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 5.33 years | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 6.85 years | +28.5% |
| 2010 | 6.59 years | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 6.13 years | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 6.01 years | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.1262 years | 0.1262 years | 0.1262 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.2523 years | 0.2523 years | 0.2523 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.5383 years | 0.5383 years | 0.5383 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.09 years | 0.9757 years | 1.19 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.46 years | 1.35 years | 1.57 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.3 years | 2.19 years | 2.41 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.72 years | 2.6 years | 2.84 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.27 years | 3.11 years | 3.43 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.91 years | 3.78 years | 4.03 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.63 years | 4.4 years | 4.86 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.09 years | 5.33 years | 6.85 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.36 years | 6.13 years | 6.59 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.01 years | 6.01 years | 6.01 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More education data for Lesotho
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 150,993 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0646 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 158,487 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.5022 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0678 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 136,497 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.99 % change on previous year (2017)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 10,388 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.66 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Lesotho?
- Average years of schooling in Lesotho was 6.01 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 6.85 years in 2005.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Lesotho rank for average years of schooling?
- Lesotho ranks 125th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.