Lesotho: Literacy rate

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Lesotho

Literacy rate

 Latest value 90.45
 Year 2024
 Measure percent
 Data availability 2000 - 2024
 Average 86.45
 Min - Max 66.10 - 97.27
 Source UNESCO
 Available for Data download
The latest value from 2024 is 90.45 percent, a decline from 92.4 percent in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 89.47 percent, based on data from 29 countries. Historically, the average for Lesotho from 2000 to 2024 is 86.45 percent. The minimum value, 66.1 percent, was reached in 2006 while the maximum of 97.27 percent was recorded in 2016. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
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 Recent values Lesotho: Literacy rate
 2024 90.45
 2019 92.40
 2018 86.24
 2016 97.27
 2006 66.10
 2000 86.25




Definition: Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Education spending, percent of GDP 6.62 2024 percent
 Education spending, percent of government spending 10.37 2024 percent
 Literacy rate 90.45 2024 percent
 Female literacy rate, ages 15-24 98.80 2024 percent
 Male literacy rate, ages 15-24 94.31 2024 percent
 Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24 96.48 2024 percent
 Primary school completion rate 66.96 2023 percent
 School starting age, primary school 6 2025 years
 Female to male ratio, primary school pupils 0.95 2019 percent
 Female to male ratio, secondary school students 1.24 2019 percent
 Female to male ratio, students at tertiary level education 1.34 2018 percent
 Primary school enrollment 80.18 2024 percent
 Secondary school enrollment 59.36 2017 percent
 Tertiary school enrollment 9.94 2018 percent
 Trained teachers in primary education 99.54 2023 percent
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