Lesotho Primary Completion Rate
Primary completion rate (% of relevant age group) SE.PRM.CMPT.ZS
Lesotho's primary completion rate was 62.07% in 2025, ranked 146th globally. This represents a 7.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1971–2025.
Overview
Lesotho's primary completion rate stood at 62.07% in 2025, a decline of +4.89pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 62.07% by 2025. Lesotho ranked 146th globally.
Lesotho’s primary completion rate has risen sharply from a low of 32.19 % in 1971, the all‑time trough, to a peak of 92.32 % in 2018, before slipping to 62.07 % in 2025, placing the nation 146th in the world. The 53‑year span shows a dramatic expansion of access to basic education during the 1990s and early 2000s, followed by a recent decline that mirrors broader regional challenges in sub‑Saharan Africa. Compared with peers, Lesotho’s 2025 rate is marginally higher than Senegal’s 61.98 % and lower than Eritrea’s 67.18 %, suggesting that while progress remains ahead of some neighbours, the country lags behind the more successful reforms seen in the Solomon Islands (65.41 %). The downward movement after 2018 indicates that sustaining gains will require renewed investment in school infrastructure, teacher training and retention policies; without such measures, the current trajectory may continue to erode primary completion levels.
Data & projection
| Year | Primary Completion Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 59.07% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 62.07% | - | - |
| 2025 | 62.07% | −4.89pp | #146 |
| 2023 | 66.96% | −3.62pp | #123 |
| 2022 | 70.58% | −8.13pp | #120 |
| 2021 | 78.70% | +4.93pp | #120 |
| 2020 | 73.77% | −6.60pp | #119 |
| 2019 | 80.37% | −11.95pp | #120 |
| 2018 | 92.32% | +13.72pp | #92 |
| 2016 | 78.59% | +2.19pp | #121 |
| 2015 | 76.40% | −3.09pp | #110 |
| 2014 | 79.49% | −2.36pp | #115 |
| 2013 | 81.84% | +0.06pp | #109 |
| 2012 | 81.78% | −0.12pp | #108 |
| 2011 | 81.90% | +0.70pp | #106 |
| 2010 | 81.20% | +1.97pp | #103 |
| 2009 | 79.24% | −0.36pp | #105 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lesotho matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw primary completion rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lesotho's primary completion rate was 62.07% in 2025. Ranked 146th globally. This represents a 7.3% decrease from the previous year.
Lesotho's primary completion rate peaked at 92.32% in 2018.
The lowest primary completion rate in Lesotho was 32.19% in 1971.
Lesotho ranks 146th globally in primary completion rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.PRM.CMPT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Lesotho's primary completion rate is projected to reach 62.07% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The primary completion rate of Lesotho in 2025 was 62.07%. This ranks 146th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lesotho_primary-completion-rate,
title = {Lesotho Primary Completion Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lesotho/primary-completion-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}