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Literate and illiterate world population in Namibia

Namibia: Literate and illiterate world population was 12.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
12.4%
World rank
48th
of 128 countries
All-time high
24.2%
in 1991
All-time low
11.7%
in 2018
Years of data
6
1991–2023

Literate and illiterate world population in Namibia, 1991–2023

05101520251991200720231991: 24.2 %2001: 15.1 %2011: 11.7 %2016: 11.9 %2018: 11.7 %2023: 12.4 %

Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literate and illiterate world population in Namibia is 12.4%, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 5.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Namibia peaked at 24.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 2018.

That places Namibia 48th out of 128 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 24.2% 24.2% 24.2% 1
2000s 15.1% 15.1% 15.1% 1
2010s 11.8% 11.7% 11.9% 3
2020s 12.4% 12.4% 12.4% 1

Countries ranked near Namibia

  1. 45 Papua New Guinea 13.0% compare
  2. 46 Nicaragua 12.7% compare
  3. 47 Sao Tome and Principe 12.6% compare
  4. 49 Belize 12.1% compare
  5. 50 Vanuatu 12.0% compare
  6. 51 Honduras 11.8% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Namibia

All data for Namibia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Namibia?
Literate and illiterate world population in Namibia was 12.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Namibia?
The highest recorded value was 24.2% in 1991.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Namibia?
The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 2018.
How does Namibia rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Namibia ranks 48th out of 128 countries with data for 2023.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Namibia?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator
Literate and illiterate world population
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,272 data points, 1475–2024
Last refreshed

Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.