Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in Namibia
Namibia: Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force was 1.7% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in Namibia, 1991–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in Namibia is 1.7%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in Namibia peaked at 2.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1997.
Namibia ranks 38th of 171 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More work & labour data for Namibia
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 54.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 60.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 63.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in Namibia?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in Namibia was 1.7% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1997.
- How does Namibia rank for armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force?
- Namibia ranks 38th out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.