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Namibia · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

179th of 185 · 40th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentNamibia's unemployment fell from 22.8 % in 1996 to 19.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202516%18%20%22%24%26%19.3 %

Namibia's unemployment fell from 22.8 % in 1996 to 19.3 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

174th of 183 · 41st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentNamibia's youth unemployment fell from 42.9 % in 1996 to 38.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202530%35%40%45%50%38.1 %

Namibia's youth unemployment fell from 42.9 % in 1996 to 38.1 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

111th of 182 · 29th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationNamibia's participation rose from 54.0 % in 1996 to 58.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202552%54%56%58%60%62%64%58.8 %

Namibia's participation rose from 54.0 % in 1996 to 58.8 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

83rd of 182 · 28th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Namibia's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 47.3 % in 1996 to 54.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%55%60%54.9 %

Namibia's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 47.3 % in 1996 to 54.9 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

153rd of 182 · 38th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Namibia's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 41.7 % in 1996 to 47.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202540%45%50%47.5 %

Namibia's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 41.7 % in 1996 to 47.5 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

138th of 182 · 35th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalNamibia's labour force, total rose from 516,044 in 1996 to 1.15M in 2025.200020052010201520202025400k600k800k1M1.2M1.15M

Namibia's labour force, total rose from 516,044 in 1996 to 1.15M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

83rd of 182 · 39th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)Namibia's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 43.1 % in 1996 to 36.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202525%30%35%40%45%36.5 %

Namibia's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 43.1 % in 1996 to 36.5 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

95th of 182 · 7th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Namibia's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 39.1 % in 1996 to 29.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%35%40%29.9 %

Namibia's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 39.1 % in 1996 to 29.9 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

77th of 182 · 39th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Namibia's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 38.3 % in 1996 to 22.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202515%20%25%30%35%40%22.3 %

Namibia's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 38.3 % in 1996 to 22.3 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

125th of 182 · 18th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)Namibia's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 15.0 % in 1996 to 16.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202512%14%16%18%20%16.5 %

Namibia's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 15.0 % in 1996 to 16.5 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

87th of 182 · 6th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)Namibia's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 46.7 % in 1996 to 61.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202545%50%55%60%65%61.1 %

Namibia's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 46.7 % in 1996 to 61.1 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

100th of 168 · 8th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Namibia's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $31.2k in 1996 to intl $34k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $30kintl $32kintl $34kintl $36kintl $38kintl $40kintl $42kintl $34k

Namibia's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $31.2k in 1996 to intl $34k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Namibia.

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