Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Namibia
Namibia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 19.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Namibia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Namibia is 19.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Namibia peaked at 24.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2012.
That places Namibia 8th out of 187 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.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.1% | — |
| 1992 | 18.9% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 19.1% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 19.4% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 21.3% | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 22.8% | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 24.4% | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 23.1% | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 21.7% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 21.0% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 21.5% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 22.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 21.8% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 22.1% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 22.0% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 22.3% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 19.5% | -11.9% |
| 2012 | 16.8% | -13.9% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +13.5% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 20.8% | +12.3% |
| 2016 | 23.4% | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 21.7% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 19.9% | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 19.9% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 19.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 19.3% | +0.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 19.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 3.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 19.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 3.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
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 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, total (% of total labor force) in Namibia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Namibia was 19.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2012.
- How does Namibia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Namibia ranks 8th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) 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 database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total 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.