Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ in Namibia
Namibia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ was 46.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia, 1960–2023
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Namibia recorded 46.8% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 24.1% 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, 46.8%, in 2023.
That places Namibia 177th out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ in Namibia, year by year
| 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% |
| 2023 | 46.8% | -20.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 46.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.5%, 81% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 46.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 65.3%, 72% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 |
| 2020s | 46.8% | 46.8% | 46.8% | 1 |
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 15+) in Namibia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Namibia was 46.8% in 2023, 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 46.8% in 2023.
- How does Namibia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Namibia ranks 177th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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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About this data
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.