12 answers, 5 from Namibia's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
87.6% of Namibians aged 15 and over could read and write in 2023, according to World Bank Open Data, from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
The literacy rate is the share of people aged 15 and over who can read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement about their everyday life. 12.4% of adults could not read and write on this measure. The World Bank database also gives the rates for men and women separately.
21.4% of Namibian children aged 0 to 5 attended an early childhood development programme in 2023, up from 17.9% in 2011, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency's 2023 Population and Housing Census main report. That was 105,377 of 493,103 children.
Programmes include day-care, crèches and kindergartens, pre-primary classes and early entry to primary school. Attendance was 26.1% in urban areas and 17.8% in rural areas, and slightly higher for girls (22.0%) than boys (20.8%). By region, it ranged from 32.2% in Erongo to 11.0% in Kunene.
11.8% of Namibians covered by the census education indicators had tertiary education in 2023, up from 5.8% in 2011, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency's 2023 Population and Housing Census main report. 24.8% had secondary education as their highest level and 44.7% primary education.
Tertiary education includes university, college and vocational qualifications after secondary school. 11.1% of people aged 15 and over had never attended school and 20.6% were still at school. Adult literacy was 87.0% in the census. Gross tertiary enrolment was 26.11% of the university-age population in 2022, according to UNESCO data on World Bank Open Data.
Government spending on education in Namibia was 9.08% of GDP in 2024, according to UNESCO data on World Bank Open Data. It was 9.39% in 2022 and 10.39% in 2021.
The figure covers spending by all levels of government on schools, universities and training, including salaries and buildings. Education output grew 4.7% in 2025, the NSA's national accounts show. The Ministry of Education site (moe.gov.na) did not respond on 15 October 2026.
Gross enrolment in secondary school in Namibia was 81.96% in 2024, according to UNESCO data on World Bank Open Data. Net enrolment in primary school was 97.49% in 2018, the latest year available, the same source shows.
Gross enrolment divides all secondary pupils, whatever their age, by the number of children of secondary school age, so it can be pushed up by pupils repeating grades. Net primary enrolment counts only children of primary age who are in school. Namibia introduced free secondary education in public schools in 2016.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, net primary school enrolment in Namibia was 97.5% in 2018. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 90.7%, and Namibia placed 1st highest of 19. World rank, highest first: 7th of 69.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Namibia was 82.0% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 62.1% (2006) to 83.3% (2021). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 65.3%, and Namibia placed 3rd highest of 11. Of 100 countries with 2024 data, 77th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross tertiary enrolment in Namibia was 26.1% in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 6.8% (2006) to 26.6% (2021). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 13.9%, and Namibia placed 2nd highest of 15. Of 119 countries with 2022 data, 93rd highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Namibia was 87.6% in 2023. It was 88.3% in 2011. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 68.5%, and Namibia placed 2nd highest of 7. World rank, highest first: 23rd of 33.
In 2024, government spending on education in Namibia was 9.1% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2006 it has ranged from 1.4% of GDP (2017) to 10.6% of GDP (2016). It is 1st highest of 11 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.6% of GDP. Of 36 countries with 2024 data, 1st highest.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2018, is 25. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 20th highest of 23 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 39. World rank, highest first: 31st of 85.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the primary completion rate in Namibia was 88.6% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 80.7% (2006) to 97.7% (2020). It is 5th highest of 19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 77.3%. Of 104 countries with 2024 data, 76th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error