Namibia Tertiary Enrollment
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) SE.TER.ENRR
Namibia's tertiary enrollment was 28.42% in 2025, ranked 103rd globally. This represents a 8.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Namibia's tertiary enrollment stood at 28.42% in 2025, a rise of +2.31pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 28.42% by 2025. Namibia ranked 103rd globally.
Namibia’s tertiary enrollment has risen dramatically from a low of 2.85 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 28.42 % in 2025, placing the country at 103rd globally. This 25‑year expansion reflects sustained investment in higher‑education infrastructure and scholarship programmes that have broadened access for a population that previously faced severe post‑independence constraints. The increase outpaces many sub‑Saharan peers, yet remains modest compared with regional comparators such as Guatemala, where enrollment reached 28.35 %, and El Salvador, where it stood at 33.32 % in the same year. Namibia’s progress aligns with a broader African trend of expanding tertiary participation, but the current level still lags behind the global average, suggesting that further scaling of financial aid, digital learning platforms, and alignment of curricula with labour‑market needs will be crucial to sustain upward momentum. Continued policy focus on affordability and quality is likely to keep the trajectory positive in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Tertiary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 28.42% | - | - |
| 2025 | 28.42% | +2.31pp | #103 |
| 2022 | 26.11% | −0.50pp | #98 |
| 2021 | 26.61% | +0.62pp | #99 |
| 2020 | 25.99% | +0.09pp | #99 |
| 2019 | 25.90% | +2.20pp | #96 |
| 2018 | 23.70% | +1.22pp | #100 |
| 2017 | 22.48% | +1.04pp | #101 |
| 2016 | 21.44% | +1.78pp | #104 |
| 2015 | 19.66% | +1.19pp | #109 |
| 2014 | 18.47% | +1.00pp | #100 |
| 2013 | 17.46% | +0.56pp | #99 |
| 2012 | 16.90% | +7.41pp | #101 |
| 2008 | 9.49% | +2.74pp | #100 |
| 2006 | 6.75% | −0.35pp | #99 |
| 2005 | 7.11% | +0.72pp | #97 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Namibia matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2009. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw tertiary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Namibia's tertiary enrollment was 28.42% in 2025. Ranked 103rd globally. This represents a 8.9% increase from the previous year.
Namibia's tertiary enrollment peaked at 28.42% in 2025.
The lowest tertiary enrollment in Namibia was 2.85% in 1991.
Namibia ranks 103rd globally in tertiary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.TER.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Namibia's tertiary enrollment is projected to reach 28.42% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The tertiary enrollment of Namibia in 2025 was 28.42%. This ranks 103rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_namibia_tertiary-enrollment,
title = {Namibia Tertiary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/namibia/tertiary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}