Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia

Namibia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 130,873 number in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
130,873 number
World rank
62nd
of 87 countries
All-time high
290,916 number
in 2007
All-time low
130,873 number
in 2018
Years of data
5
1991–2018

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia, 1991–2018

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1991200420181991: 199.5k number2001: 160.2k number2007: 290.9k number2011: 158.5k number2018: 130.9k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia is 130,873 number, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 55.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia peaked at 290,916 number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 130,873 number, in 2018.

Namibia ranks 62nd of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia, year by year

Annual values for Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number) in Namibia, 1991 to 2018.
Year number Change
1991 199,509 number
2001 160,207 number -19.7%
2007 290,916 number +81.6%
2011 158,488 number -45.5%
2018 130,873 number -17.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 199,509 number 199,509 number 199,509 number 1
2000s 225,562 number 160,207 number 290,916 number 2
2010s 144,680 number 130,873 number 158,488 number 2

Countries ranked near Namibia

  1. 59 Oman 161,173 number compare
  2. 60 Qatar 153,999 number compare
  3. 61 Panama 139,457 number compare
  4. 63 Kuwait 129,702 number compare
  5. 64 Singapore 128,380 number compare
  6. 65 Jordan 116,173 number compare

See the full ranking of 126 places →

More education data for Namibia

All data for Namibia →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia?
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia was 130,873 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Namibia?
The highest recorded value was 290,916 number in 2007.
What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Namibia?
The lowest recorded value was 130,873 number in 2018.
How does Namibia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
Namibia ranks 62nd out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Namibia?
Over the last ten years it is down 55.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Namibia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Namibia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adult-illiterate-population-15-years-both-sexes-number/namibia/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
126 places, 2,267 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.