Labour · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Namibia: the labour market
Labour force is 1.2m (2025), 143rd of 187 in the world and 37th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Participation rate is 58.8% (2025), 112th of 187 in the world and 30th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women's participation is 54.9% (2025), 84th of 187 in the world and 29th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Labour force
Namibia
Participation rate
NamibiaSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
13 indicators
Labour: Namibia in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 1.2m2025 | 143/187 | 37/47 | 575,679 | 759,361 | 960,250 | +26%since 2015 | 527m | 1.2bn | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 58.8%2025 | 112/187 | 30/47 | 54.1% | 57.0% | 56.0% | −1.8 ppsince 2015 | 70.3% | 58.2% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 54.9%2025 | 84/187 | 29/47 | 47.3% | 52.1% | 52.5% | −1.4 ppsince 2015 | 65.2% | 39.2% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 47.5%2025 | 155/187 | 39/47 | 43.1% | 44.4% | 44.2% | −0.5 ppsince 2015 | 66.3% | 55.6% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 19.3%2025 | 8/187 | 6/47 | 20.3% | 22.1% | 21.0% | −1.5 ppsince 2015 | 5.7% | 4.5% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 18.4%2025 | 18/187 | 8/47 | 21.7% | 24.0% | 19.4% | −4.1 ppsince 2015 | 6.3% | 4.9% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 38.0%2025 | 10/187 | 5/47 | 39.2% | 44.5% | 41.5% | −3.2 ppsince 2015 | 10.1% | 13.1% | 13.4% | |
| Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, % | 31.6%2023 | 26/170 | 15/44 | · | 29.3% | 31.9%2018 | −0.4 ppsince 2013 | — | 21.8% | — | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 63.5%2025 | 103/187 | 7/47 | 58.1% | 62.9% | 62.2% | −4.7 ppsince 2015 | 22.3% | 29.6% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 29.9%2025 | 90/187 | 41/47 | 37.7% | 32.4% | 31.4% | +2.2 ppsince 2015 | 71.0% | 65.5% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 22.3%2025 | 79/187 | 41/47 | 28.4% | 28.7% | 23.6% | −2.1 ppsince 2015 | 49.3% | 39.8% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 16.5%2025 | 128/187 | 18/47 | 13.1% | 13.6% | 16.0% | −0.5 ppsince 2015 | 12.2% | 22.4% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 61.1%2025 | 89/187 | 6/47 | 58.5% | 57.8% | 60.4% | +2.5 ppsince 2015 | 38.5% | 37.8% | 50.6% |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Unemployment−1.5 pp19.3% in 2025
- Female unemployment−4.1 pp18.4% in 2025
- Youth unemployment−3.2 pp38.0% in 2025
- Youth NEET rate−0.4 pp31.6% in 2023
Worse than ten years ago
- Women's participation−1.4 pp54.9% in 2025
- Employment rate−0.5 pp47.5% in 2025
- Wage workers−4.7 pp63.5% in 2025
- Vulnerable employment+2.2 pp29.9% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Namibia and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Namibia. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Namibia | South Africa | Angola | Zambia | Botswana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 1.2m2025 | 26.7m2025 | 16.3m2025 | 8.0m2025 | 1.2m2025 |
| Participation rate | 58.8%2025 | 55.6%2025 | 74.8%2025 | 61.9%2025 | 68.8%2025 |
| Women's participation | 54.9%2025 | 49.9%2025 | 72.2%2025 | 56.4%2025 | 63.7%2025 |
| Employment rate | 47.5%2025 | 37.6%2025 | 64.2%2025 | 58.3%2025 | 52.0%2025 |
| Unemployment | 19.3%2025 | 32.4%2025 | 14.1%2025 | 5.9%2025 | 24.5%2025 |
| Female unemployment | 18.4%2025 | 34.0%2025 | 14.3%2025 | 6.2%2025 | 27.9%2025 |
| Youth unemployment | 38.0%2025 | 59.9%2025 | 27.2%2025 | 10.5%2025 | 46.0%2025 |
| Youth NEET rate | 31.6%2023 | 34.6%2024 | 24.9%2025 | 26.7%2024 | 38.0%2024 |
| Wage workers | 63.5%2025 | 82.7%2025 | 24.1%2025 | 28.3%2025 | 71.9%2025 |