Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia

Namibia: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 80,338 number in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
80,338 number
World rank
58th
of 83 countries
All-time high
179,041 number
in 2007
All-time low
80,338 number
in 2018
Years of data
5
1991–2018

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia, 1991–2018

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k1991200420181991: 124.1k number2001: 93.4k number2007: 179.0k number2011: 84.9k number2018: 80.3k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia is 80,338 number, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is down 55.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia peaked at 179,041 number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 80,338 number, in 2018.

That places Namibia 58th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number) in Namibia, 1991 to 2018.
Year number Change
1991 124,135 number
2001 93,371 number -24.8%
2007 179,041 number +91.8%
2011 84,864 number -52.6%
2018 80,338 number -5.3%

Namibia compared with similar countries

  • Namibia's 80,338 number is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.31 million number, 6% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • Namibia's 80,338 number is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.58 million number, 3% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 124,135 number 124,135 number 124,135 number 1
2000s 136,206 number 93,371 number 179,041 number 2
2010s 82,601 number 80,338 number 84,864 number 2

Countries ranked near Namibia

  1. 55 Qatar 125,067 number compare
  2. 56 Oman 119,293 number compare
  3. 57 Kuwait 100,786 number compare
  4. 59 Portugal 75,665 number compare
  5. 60 Panama 73,286 number compare
  6. 61 Greece 68,175 number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Namibia

All data for Namibia →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia was 80,338 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Namibia?
The highest recorded value was 179,041 number in 2007.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Namibia?
The lowest recorded value was 80,338 number in 2018.
How does Namibia rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
Namibia ranks 58th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Namibia?
Over the last ten years it is down 55.1%. 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 Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/namibia/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.