Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia
Namibia: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 18.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia is 18.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia peaked at 25.9% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 2023.
Namibia ranks 18th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.6% | — |
| 1992 | 19.1% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 20.0% | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 21.1% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 23.0% | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 25.9% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 24.5% | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 23.0% | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 21.7% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 22.8% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 23.8% | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 24.8% | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 25.1% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 25.0% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 24.5% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 24.6% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 24.3% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 24.4% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 24.0% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 21.5% | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 20.7% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 20.4% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 25.0% | +10.9% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 18.6% | -15.3% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 19.4% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 19.4% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 18.4% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 17.9% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 18.0% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 18.4% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.2% | 18.6% | 25.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.1% | 21.7% | 25.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.2% | 18.6% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.6% | 17.9% | 19.4% | 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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Namibia was 18.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.9% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 2023.
- How does Namibia rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Namibia ranks 18th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.