Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Namibia

Unemployment rate in Namibia in 2025 — 19.29%. Ranked 176 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.15 pp.

2025 19.29% +0.13 pp vs 2024
World rank 176of 182
Period maximum 24.45%1997
Period minimum 16.77%2012

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Namibia, 1991–202516182022242619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 19.14%1992: 18.9%1993: 19.08%1994: 19.4%1995: 21.34%1996: 22.84%1997: 24.45%1998: 23.08%1999: 21.67%2000: 20.3%2001: 21.01%2002: 21.54%2003: 22.1%2004: 22.09%2005: 22.11%2006: 21.85%2007: 22.12%2008: 22.01%2009: 22.27%2010: 22.12%2011: 19.48%2012: 16.77%2013: 19.03%2014: 18.52%2015: 20.79%2016: 23.35%2017: 21.75%2018: 19.88%2019: 19.93%2020: 21%2021: 20.93%2022: 19.62%2023: 19.15%2024: 19.16%2025: 19.29%
Change over the period: +0.15 pp Annual average: 0 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Namibia 19.29%
World 4.79%
Southern Africa computed 31.14%
Unemployment rate — Namibia, by year Namibia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 19.29 +0.13 pp
2024 19.16 +0 pp
2023 19.15 −0.46 pp
2022 19.62 −1.32 pp
2021 20.93 −0.07 pp
2020 21 +1.07 pp
2019 19.93 +0.05 pp
2018 19.88 −1.87 pp
2017 21.75 −1.6 pp
2016 23.35 +2.56 pp
2015 20.79 +2.27 pp
2014 18.52 −0.51 pp
2013 19.03 +2.26 pp
2012 16.77 −2.71 pp
2011 19.48 −2.64 pp
2010 22.12 −0.15 pp
2009 22.27 +0.27 pp
2008 22.01 −0.12 pp
2007 22.12 +0.27 pp
2006 21.85 −0.26 pp
2005 22.11 +0.02 pp
2004 22.09 −0.01 pp
2003 22.1 +0.57 pp
2002 21.54 +0.53 pp
2001 21.01 +0.71 pp
2000 20.3 −1.37 pp
1999 21.67 −1.42 pp
1998 23.08 −1.37 pp
1997 24.45 +1.61 pp
1996 22.84 +1.5 pp
1995 21.34 +1.94 pp
1994 19.4 +0.32 pp
1993 19.08 +0.18 pp
1992 18.9 −0.24 pp
1991 19.14

Southern Africa, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

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