Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Namibia

Self-employed in Namibia in 2025 — 36.5%. Ranked 83 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 7 pp.

2025 36.5% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 83of 182
Period maximum 43.5%1991
Period minimum 29.8%2016

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Namibia, 1991–2025253035404519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 43.5%1992: 43.5%1993: 43.4%1994: 43.4%1995: 43.3%1996: 43.1%1997: 43%1998: 42.6%1999: 42.3%2000: 41.9%2001: 41.5%2002: 41.1%2003: 40.6%2004: 40.1%2005: 39.5%2006: 38.9%2007: 38.4%2008: 37.9%2009: 37.5%2010: 37.1%2011: 36.9%2012: 36.7%2013: 36.2%2014: 34%2015: 31.9%2016: 29.8%2017: 33.7%2018: 37.6%2019: 37.5%2020: 37.8%2021: 37.2%2022: 37.2%2023: 37%2024: 36.8%2025: 36.5%
Change over the period: −7 pp Annual average: -0.21 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Namibia

Namibia 36.5%
World 46.4%
Southern Africa computed 19.2%
Self-employed — Namibia, by year Namibia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 36.5 −0.3 pp
2024 36.8 −0.2 pp
2023 37 −0.1 pp
2022 37.2 −0.1 pp
2021 37.2 −0.5 pp
2020 37.8 +0.3 pp
2019 37.5 −0 pp
2018 37.6 +3.9 pp
2017 33.7 +3.9 pp
2016 29.8 −2.1 pp
2015 31.9 −2.1 pp
2014 34 −2.2 pp
2013 36.2 −0.4 pp
2012 36.7 −0.3 pp
2011 36.9 −0.2 pp
2010 37.1 −0.4 pp
2009 37.5 −0.4 pp
2008 37.9 −0.5 pp
2007 38.4 −0.5 pp
2006 38.9 −0.5 pp
2005 39.5 −0.6 pp
2004 40.1 −0.6 pp
2003 40.6 −0.5 pp
2002 41.1 −0.4 pp
2001 41.5 −0.4 pp
2000 41.9 −0.4 pp
1999 42.3 −0.4 pp
1998 42.6 −0.3 pp
1997 43 −0.2 pp
1996 43.1 −0.1 pp
1995 43.3 −0.1 pp
1994 43.4 −0.1 pp
1993 43.4 −0.1 pp
1992 43.5 −0.1 pp
1991 43.5

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of total employment that is self-employed: employers, own-account workers, members of producers cooperatives and contributing family workers. High values in low-income countries reflect not developed entrepreneurship but the absence of wage jobs and informal work in agriculture and small-scale trade.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.