Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia
Namibia: Unemployment rate of men vs. women was 20.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
20.1%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
6th
of 186 countries
All-time high
23.2%
in 1997
All-time low
14.7%
in 2012
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia stood at 20.1%.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia peaked at 23.2% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 2012.
That places Namibia 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.6% | — |
| 1992 | 18.7% | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 18.3% | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 17.9% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 19.9% | +11.3% |
| 1996 | 21.5% | +8.0% |
| 1997 | 23.2% | +7.9% |
| 1998 | 21.9% | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 20.5% | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 19.1% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 19.8% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 19.4% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 19.6% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 19.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 20.4% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 20.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 17.6% | -13.8% |
| 2012 | 14.7% | -16.4% |
| 2013 | 17.4% | +18.3% |
| 2014 | 16.7% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 19.1% | +14.4% |
| 2016 | 21.8% | +14.1% |
| 2017 | 21.6% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 21.1% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 22.5% | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 22.4% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 20.8% | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 20.3% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 20.3% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 20.1% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.2% | 17.9% | 23.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.7% | 19.1% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2% | 14.7% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.1% | 20.1% | 22.5% | 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 unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia?
- Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Namibia was 20.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 2012.
- How does Namibia rank for unemployment rate of men vs. women?
- Namibia ranks 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate of men vs. women rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Unemployment rate of men vs. women. 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
Share of the male labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.