Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia

Namibia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 91.7% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
91.7%
World rank
48th
of 83 countries
All-time high
91.7%
in 2018
All-time low
73.4%
in 1991
Years of data
5
1991–2018

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

0204060801001991200420181991: 73.4 %2001: 84.8 %2007: 75.1 %2011: 89.3 %2018: 91.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia is 91.7%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia peaked at 91.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 73.4%, in 1991.

That places Namibia 48th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 73.4% 73.4% 73.4% 1
2000s 80.0% 75.1% 84.8% 2
2010s 90.5% 89.3% 91.7% 2

Countries ranked near Namibia

  1. 45 Sao Tome and Principe 93.0% compare
  2. 46 Thailand 92.9% compare
  3. 47 Sri Lanka 92.5% compare
  4. 49 El Salvador 89.8% compare
  5. 50 Eswatini 87.9% compare
  6. 51 South Africa 87.7% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Namibia

All data for Namibia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Namibia was 91.7% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Namibia?
The highest recorded value was 91.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Namibia?
The lowest recorded value was 73.4% in 1991.
How does Namibia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Namibia ranks 48th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Namibia?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Namibia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.