Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia

Namibia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 58.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
58.9%
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
128th
of 199 countries
All-time high
61.7%
in 2013
All-time low
48.0%
in 2004
Years of data
14
1960–2018

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia, 1960–2018

02040601960198920181960: 57.81991: 58.41994: 54.61997: 53.52000: 54.12001: 54.42004: 482008: 55.42010: 60.22012: 57.52013: 61.72014: 60.82016: 60.52018: 58.9

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Namibia recorded 58.9% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2018.

The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia peaked at 61.7% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 48.0%, in 2004.

That places Namibia 128th out of 199 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Namibia, 1960 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1960 57.8%
1991 58.4% +1.0%
1994 54.6% -6.6%
1997 53.5% -2.0%
2000 54.1% +1.2%
2001 54.4% +0.5%
2004 48.0% -11.7%
2008 55.4% +15.3%
2010 60.2% +8.6%
2012 57.5% -4.4%
2013 61.7% +7.2%
2014 60.8% -1.4%
2016 60.5% -0.6%
2018 58.9% -2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 57.8% 57.8% 57.8% 1
1990s 55.5% 53.5% 58.4% 3
2000s 53.0% 48.0% 55.4% 4
2010s 59.9% 57.5% 61.7% 6

Countries ranked near Namibia

  1. 125 New Caledonia 59.3% compare
  2. 126 Serbia 59.0% compare
  3. 127 Bangladesh 58.9% compare
  4. 129 Poland 58.7% compare
  5. 130 Slovenia 58.5% compare
  6. 131 Spain 58.2% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Namibia

All data for Namibia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia was 58.9% in 2018, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Namibia?
The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 2013.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Namibia?
The lowest recorded value was 48.0% in 2004.
How does Namibia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Namibia ranks 128th out of 199 countries with data for 2018.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Namibia?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Namibia data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/namibia/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,713 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.