Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Namibia
Namibia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 60.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Namibia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Namibia recorded 60.1% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Namibia peaked at 62.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 54.9%, in 1997.
Namibia ranks 143rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.9% | — |
| 1991 | 56.8% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 56.8% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 56.8% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 56.8% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 56.1% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 55.5% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 54.9% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 55.1% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 55.2% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 55.4% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 55.7% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 56.0% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 56.3% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 56.5% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 56.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 57.1% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 57.4% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 57.7% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 58.0% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 58.3% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 58.9% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 62.9% | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 62.3% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 62.4% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 62.5% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 61.3% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 60.1% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 60.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 57.1% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 57.6% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 60.0% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 60.0% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 60.1% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 60.1% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.1% | 54.9% | 56.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.7% | 55.4% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.7% | 58.3% | 62.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.2% | 57.1% | 60.1% | 6 |
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, total (% of total population ages) in Namibia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Namibia was 60.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 62.9% in 2013.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.9% in 1997.
- How does Namibia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Namibia ranks 143rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. 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, total (% of total 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.