Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia
Namibia: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 36.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
36.9%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
10th
of 187 countries
All-time high
44.3%
in 1997
All-time low
29.3%
in 2012
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia stood at 36.9%.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia peaked at 44.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 29.3%, in 2012.
Namibia ranks 10th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 35.7% | — |
| 1992 | 34.3% | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 33.5% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 32.9% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 37.0% | +12.6% |
| 1996 | 40.6% | +9.6% |
| 1997 | 44.3% | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 41.9% | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 39.4% | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 36.9% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 37.5% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 37.8% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 37.6% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 38.1% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 39.1% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 39.5% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 40.5% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 40.8% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 35.1% | -14.0% |
| 2012 | 29.3% | -16.5% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | +23.0% |
| 2014 | 35.3% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 36.1% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 37.4% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 37.7% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 37.5% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 37.7% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 40.5% | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 39.4% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 37.2% | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 36.5% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 36.6% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 36.9% | +0.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 36.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 3.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 36.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 4.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.7% | 32.9% | 44.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.3% | 36.9% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.3% | 29.3% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.8% | 36.5% | 40.5% | 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Namibia was 36.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.3% in 2012.
- How does Namibia rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Namibia ranks 10th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.