Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia
Namibia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 56.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia is 56.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia peaked at 60.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 48.4%, in 1997.
Namibia ranks 115th of 187 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.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.0% | — |
| 1991 | 50.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 50.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 50.0% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 50.0% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 49.5% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 48.9% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 48.4% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 48.6% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 49.1% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 50.1% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 50.6% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 51.1% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 51.6% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 52.1% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 52.6% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 53.2% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 53.7% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 54.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 54.8% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 60.0% | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 58.8% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 58.4% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 57.9% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 57.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 56.8% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 56.7% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 53.8% | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 54.4% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 56.1% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 56.2% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 56.4% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 56.4% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.4% | 48.4% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.9% | 48.6% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.9% | 53.7% | 60.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.5% | 53.8% | 56.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 112 Trinidad and Tobago 57.0% compare
- 113 Zambia 56.7% compare
- 114 Malaysia 56.7% compare
- 116 Cape Verde 56.4% compare
- 117 North Macedonia 55.9% compare
- 118 Indonesia 55.9% compare
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, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Namibia was 56.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 60.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.4% in 1997.
- How does Namibia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Namibia ranks 115th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.