Labor force participation rate by age in Namibia
Namibia: Labor force participation rate by age was 29.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Namibia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Namibia stood at 29.4%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Namibia peaked at 36.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 2020.
That places Namibia 148th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.8% | 30.0% | 36.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.2% | 29.7% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.2% | 29.2% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.7% | 27.3% | 29.5% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Namibia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Namibia was 29.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 2020.
- How does Namibia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Namibia ranks 148th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).