Labor force participation rate in Namibia
Namibia: Labor force participation rate was 58.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Namibia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Namibia is 58.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Namibia peaked at 61.7% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 53.5%, in 1997.
That places Namibia 112th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 55.1% | — |
| 1991 | 55.1% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 55.1% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 55.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 55.1% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 54.6% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 54.0% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 53.5% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 53.7% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 53.9% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 54.1% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 54.4% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 54.7% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 55.0% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 55.3% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 55.6% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 55.8% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 56.1% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 56.4% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 56.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 57.0% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 57.3% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 57.5% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 61.7% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 60.8% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 60.6% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 60.5% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 59.7% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 58.9% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 58.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 56.0% | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 56.5% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 58.9% | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 58.9% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 58.9% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 58.8% | -0.1% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 58.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 58.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 91% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.5% | 53.5% | 55.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.4% | 54.1% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.3% | 57.0% | 61.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.0% | 56.0% | 58.9% | 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 in Namibia?
- Labor force participation rate in Namibia was 58.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 2013.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.5% in 1997.
- How does Namibia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Namibia ranks 112th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).