Labor force, total in Namibia
Namibia: Labor force, total was 1.15 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Namibia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 1.15 million for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Namibia peaked at 1.15 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 435,534, in 1990.
Namibia ranks 143rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 435,534 | — |
| 1991 | 450,691 | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 465,311 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 480,507 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 495,826 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 506,113 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 516,044 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 525,413 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 541,861 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 558,646 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 575,679 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 593,289 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 610,372 | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 627,019 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 643,871 | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 662,309 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 682,001 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 701,719 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 721,316 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 740,620 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 759,361 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 778,067 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 800,026 | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 881,059 | +10.1% |
| 2014 | 892,359 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 914,121 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 935,710 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 947,334 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 958,630 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 984,283 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 960,250 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 994,464 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 1.06 million | +7.0% |
| 2023 | 1.09 million | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 1.12 million | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 1.15 million | +2.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 1.15 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 23% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 1.15 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 19% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 497,595 | 435,534 | 558,646 | 10 |
| 2000s | 655,820 | 575,679 | 740,620 | 10 |
| 2010s | 885,095 | 759,361 | 984,283 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.07 million | 960,250 | 1.15 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More education data for Namibia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 10,653 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 90,003 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 26,964 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 27,746 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 236,050 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 590,029 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1947 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Namibia?
- Labor force, total in Namibia was 1.15 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 435,534 in 1990.
- How does Namibia rank for labor force, total?
- Namibia ranks 143rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.