Population by labor force status in Namibia
Namibia: Population by labor force status was 1.13 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.13 million people
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
117th
of 186 countries
All-time high
1.13 million people
in 2025
All-time low
597,671 people
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Namibia, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 1.13 million people for population by labor force status in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Namibia peaked at 1.13 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 597,671 people, in 1991.
Namibia ranks 117th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Population by labor force status in Namibia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 597,671 people | — |
| 1992 | 616,712 people | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 636,427 people | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 656,114 people | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 674,443 people | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 690,962 people | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 707,187 people | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 723,878 people | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 740,305 people | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 755,138 people | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 766,764 people | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 774,137 people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 777,141 people | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 777,128 people | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 774,412 people | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 770,519 people | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 768,255 people | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 768,241 people | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 770,910 people | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 776,895 people | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 787,303 people | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 804,104 people | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 824,555 people | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 845,046 people | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 866,817 people | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 891,382 people | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 919,180 people | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 949,189 people | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 980,037 people | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 1.01 million people | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 1.05 million people | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 1.08 million people | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 1.11 million people | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 1.12 million people | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 1.13 million people | +1.2% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 1.13 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.79 million people, 30% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 1.13 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.33 million people, 18% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 671,522 people | 597,671 people | 740,305 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 770,264 people | 755,138 people | 777,141 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 864,451 people | 776,895 people | 980,037 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.08 million people | 1.01 million people | 1.13 million people | 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 population by labor force status in Namibia?
- Population by labor force status in Namibia was 1.13 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.13 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 597,671 people in 1991.
- How does Namibia rank for population by labor force status?
- Namibia ranks 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).