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Lesotho Literacy Rate

Adult literacy rate  SE.ADT.LITR.ZS

98.64% +8.19pp (+9.1%)
Year 2025 Rank #12 Global Peak 98.64% (2025) Source World Bank

Lesotho Literacy Rate (2000–2025)

Overview

Lesotho's literacy rate stood at 98.64% in 2025, a rise of +8.19pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 98.64% by 2025. Lesotho ranked 12th globally.

Data & projection

Year Literacy Rate YoY change Rank
2027* trend 101.53% - -
2026* trend 100.09% - -
2025* trend 98.64% - -
2025 98.64% +8.19pp #12
2024 90.45% −2.05pp #15
2019 92.50% +6.26pp #29
2018 86.24% −11.03pp #30
2016 97.27% +31.17pp #9
2006 66.10% −20.15pp #21
2000 86.25% #22
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +18.0% GDP growth 2.9% C/A balance 3.9%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Lesotho matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lesotho's literacy rate?

Lesotho's literacy rate was 98.64% in 2025. Ranked 12th globally. This represents a 9.1% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest literacy rate in Lesotho?

Lesotho's literacy rate peaked at 98.64% in 2025.

What was the lowest literacy rate in Lesotho?

The lowest literacy rate in Lesotho was 66.10% in 2006.

How does Lesotho rank in literacy rate?

Lesotho ranks 12th globally in literacy rate as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for literacy rate?

The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected literacy rate of Lesotho in 2025?

Lesotho's literacy rate is projected to reach 98.64% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the literacy rate of Lesotho in 2025?

The literacy rate of Lesotho in 2025 was 98.64%. This ranks 12th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Lesotho Literacy Rate. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/lesotho/literacy-rate
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_lesotho_literacy-rate, title = {Lesotho Literacy Rate}, url = {https://historysaid.com/lesotho/literacy-rate}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }