Average years of schooling in Namibia
Namibia: Average years of schooling was 7.19 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Namibia, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 7.19 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Namibia peaked at 7.19 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
That places Namibia 111th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Namibia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1437 years | +43.7% |
| 1900 | 0.2874 years | +100.0% |
| 1913 | 0.613 years | +113.3% |
| 1925 | 1.11 years | +81.3% |
| 1929 | 1.36 years | +22.4% |
| 1933 | 1.53 years | +12.7% |
| 1938 | 1.79 years | +16.9% |
| 1950 | 2.49 years | +39.0% |
| 1955 | 2.82 years | +13.4% |
| 1960 | 3.13 years | +10.7% |
| 1965 | 3.53 years | +12.9% |
| 1970 | 4.1 years | +16.1% |
| 1975 | 4.63 years | +12.9% |
| 1980 | 5.19 years | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 5.81 years | +12.0% |
| 1990 | 6.36 years | +9.4% |
| 1995 | 6.24 years | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 5.89 years | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 6.03 years | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 6.13 years | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 6.68 years | +9.0% |
| 2020 | 7.19 years | +7.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.1437 years | 0.1437 years | 0.1437 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.2874 years | 0.2874 years | 0.2874 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.613 years | 0.613 years | 0.613 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.24 years | 1.11 years | 1.36 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.66 years | 1.53 years | 1.79 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.66 years | 2.49 years | 2.82 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.33 years | 3.13 years | 3.53 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.36 years | 4.1 years | 4.63 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.5 years | 5.19 years | 5.81 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.3 years | 6.24 years | 6.36 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.96 years | 5.89 years | 6.03 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.4 years | 6.13 years | 6.68 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.19 years | 7.19 years | 7.19 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More education data for Namibia
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2020)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 21,240 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 2 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Namibia?
- Average years of schooling in Namibia was 7.19 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.19 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Namibia rank for average years of schooling?
- Namibia ranks 111th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.