Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia
Namibia: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 19.9% in 2018. ▬ Flat
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia, 1991–2018
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia stood at 19.9%.
The figure is down 14.9% on the previous year and down 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia peaked at 37.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2012.
That places Namibia 6th out of 185 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.1% | — |
| 1994 | 19.4% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 19.5% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 31.2% | +53.7% |
| 2004 | 22.1% | -29.2% |
| 2008 | 37.6% | +70.1% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | -41.1% |
| 2012 | 16.8% | -24.2% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +13.5% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 23.4% | +26.1% |
| 2018 | 19.9% | -14.9% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 19.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 4.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 19.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 3.6× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 19.1% | 19.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 27.8% | 20.3% | 37.6% | 4 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 16.8% | 23.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More reference data data for Namibia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0579 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0157 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1306 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0853 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Namibia was 19.9% in 2018, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2012.
- How does Namibia rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Namibia ranks 6th out of 185 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.