Unemployment rate in Namibia
Namibia: Unemployment rate was 19.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Namibia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Namibia is 19.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Namibia peaked at 24.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2012.
That places Namibia 8th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.1% | — |
| 1992 | 18.9% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 19.1% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 19.4% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 21.3% | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 22.8% | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 24.4% | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 23.1% | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 21.7% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 21.0% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 21.5% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 22.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 21.8% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 22.1% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 22.0% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 22.3% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 19.5% | -11.9% |
| 2012 | 16.8% | -13.9% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +13.5% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 20.8% | +12.3% |
| 2016 | 23.4% | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 21.7% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 19.9% | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 19.9% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 19.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 19.3% | +0.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 19.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 3.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 19.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 3.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.1% | 18.9% | 24.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 21.7% | 20.3% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 16.8% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 19.2% | 21.0% | 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 in Namibia?
- Unemployment rate in Namibia was 19.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2012.
- How does Namibia rank for unemployment rate?
- Namibia ranks 8th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.