Literacy Rate: Lesotho

Analysis# Lesotho Literacy Rate Lesotho's literacy rate stands at 90.45% in 2024, representing a modest recovery from recent lows but still below its all-time peak of 97.27% reached in 2016. Since 2000, the country has gained 4.9 percentage points overall, though this masks significant volatility within the period. The 24-year span reveals both progress and regression, with the nation's literacy foundation improving from 86.25% in 2000 to a near-peak performance mid-decade. A dramatic dip to 66.1% in 2006 marked the lowest point in the data range, followed by sharp recovery toward 2016. The subsequent decline from 97.27% to 86.24% between 2016 and 2018 signals a potential measurement or policy shift worth monitoring. Recent stabilization around 90% suggests Lesotho has settled into a more sustainable range, though sustained effort remains necessary to approach and exceed the 2016 benchmark.