Unemployment with basic education in Namibia

Namibia: Unemployment with basic education was 17.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
17.5%
Change on year
down 39.6%
World rank
13th
of 130 countries
All-time high
29.0%
in 2016
All-time low
17.5%
in 2018
Years of data
7
1994–2018

Unemployment with basic education in Namibia, 1994–2018

01020301994200620181994: 20.6 % of total labor force with basic education2010: 20.7 % of total labor force with basic education2012: 20.1 % of total labor force with basic education2013: 23 % of total labor force with basic education2014: 22.4 % of total labor force with basic education2016: 29 % of total labor force with basic education2018: 17.5 % of total labor force with basic education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with basic education.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment with basic education in Namibia is 17.5%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.6% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education in Namibia peaked at 29.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 2018.

That places Namibia 13th out of 130 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

Unemployment with basic education in Namibia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education) in Namibia, 1994 to 2018.
Year % of total labor force with basic education Change
1994 20.6% —
2010 20.7% +0.9%
2012 20.1% -3.2%
2013 23.0% +14.7%
2014 22.4% -2.9%
2016 29.0% +29.5%
2018 17.5% -39.6%

Namibia compared with similar countries

  • Namibia's 17.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.5%, 5.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • Namibia's 17.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.9%, 3.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 20.6% 20.6% 20.6% 1
2010s 22.1% 17.5% 29.0% 6

Countries ranked near Namibia

  1. 10 Finland 20.3% compare
  2. 11 North Macedonia 19.0% compare
  3. 12 Jordan 18.6%
  4. 14 Lithuania 17.3% compare
  5. 15 Latvia 17.2% compare
  6. 16 Spain 15.3% compare

See the full ranking of 150 places →

More work & labour data for Namibia

All data for Namibia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment with basic education in Namibia?
Unemployment with basic education in Namibia was 17.5% in 2018, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment with basic education recorded in Namibia?
The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 2016.
What is the lowest unemployment with basic education recorded in Namibia?
The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 2018.
How does Namibia rank for unemployment with basic education?
Namibia ranks 13th out of 130 countries with data for 2018.
Is unemployment with basic education rising or falling in Namibia?
Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Namibia data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment with basic education in Namibia. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-with-basic-education-percent-of-total-labor-force-with-basic-education/namibia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education)
Unit
% of total labor force with basic education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
150 places, 2,716 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).