Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia
Namibia: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling was 87.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia is 87.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia peaked at 88.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 75.8%, in 1991.
That places Namibia 79th out of 128 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 75.8% | — |
| 2001 | 84.9% | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 88.3% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 88.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 88.3% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 87.6% | -0.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 87.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79.0%, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 87.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.7%, 1.2× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.8% | 75.8% | 75.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 84.9% | 84.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 88.2% | 88.1% | 88.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 87.6% | 87.6% | 87.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More education data for Namibia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 10,653 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 90,003 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 26,964 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 27,746 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 236,050 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 590,029 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1947 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia?
- Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Namibia was 87.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 88.3% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.8% in 1991.
- How does Namibia rank for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling?
- Namibia ranks 79th out of 128 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.