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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 54.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 60.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 63.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.4% (2025)
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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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.