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.
Labor force participation rate by age in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 36.1% | — |
| 1991 | 36.0% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 36.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 36.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 36.0% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 34.1% | -5.1% |
| 1996 | 32.4% | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 30.6% | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 30.3% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 30.0% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 29.7% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 29.8% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 29.9% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 30.0% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 30.1% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 30.3% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 30.4% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 30.5% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 30.6% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 30.7% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 31.0% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 31.1% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 34.2% | +10.1% |
| 2014 | 32.7% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 34.6% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 36.6% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 32.8% | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 29.2% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 29.4% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 27.3% | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 27.8% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 29.5% | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 29.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 29.4% | -0.3% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 29.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 85% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 29.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 77% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0906 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0929 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.3746 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.88 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,116 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,223 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,070 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,828 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,898 1000 No (2100)
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).