Literacy rate, adult female in Lesotho
Lesotho: Literacy rate, adult female was 96.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult female in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of females ages 15 and above.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 96.6% for literacy rate, adult female in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult female in Lesotho peaked at 98.5% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 74.7%, in 2006.
Lesotho ranks 20th of 89 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rate, adult female in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of females ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 92.0% | — |
| 2006 | 74.7% | -18.8% |
| 2016 | 98.5% | +31.8% |
| 2018 | 91.8% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 97.5% | +6.3% |
| 2024 | 96.6% | -0.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 96.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.4%, 1.4× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 96.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.2%, 1.5× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 83.4% | 74.7% | 92.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 96.0% | 91.8% | 98.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 96.6% | 96.6% | 96.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More gender data for Lesotho
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 786.22 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5717 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1,708 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1,708 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,291 people (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 26,787 people (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 25,880 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 26,319 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 25,717 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult female in Lesotho?
- Literacy rate, adult female in Lesotho was 96.6% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult female recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 98.5% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult female recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.7% in 2006.
- How does Lesotho rank for literacy rate, adult female?
- Lesotho ranks 20th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, adult female rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult female (% of females ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.