Adult literacy rate in Lesotho
90.4% of adults in Lesotho could read and write in 2024.
Lesotho, 2024
90.4%
Change from 2019
−1.9percentage points
World, 2024
87.7%
Adult literacy rate in Lesotho over time
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Lesotho
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Lesotho | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | – | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 92.4% | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 86.2% | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | 66.1% | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | 86.3% | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 92.4% in 2019, a change of −1.9 percentage points.
- Since 2000, when it was 86.3%, the figure has changed by +4.2 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2024 was 87.7%.
More for Lesotho
All statistics for Lesotho
Primary school enrolment (gross)
80.2%
2024 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
38.1%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
87.9%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
56.0%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
40.2%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
32.2%
2024 · UNESCO UIS