Female labor force participation rate in Namibia
Namibia: Female labor force participation rate was 54.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Namibia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Namibia stood at 54.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Namibia peaked at 58.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 46.9%, in 1997.
Namibia ranks 84th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.7% | 46.9% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.4% | 47.3% | 51.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.2% | 52.1% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.2% | 52.5% | 54.9% | 6 |
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 female labor force participation rate in Namibia?
- Female labor force participation rate in Namibia was 54.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.6% in 2013.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.9% in 1997.
- How does Namibia rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Namibia ranks 84th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).