Namibia Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Namibia's labor force participation was 58.84% in 2025, ranked 110th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Namibia's labor force participation stood at 58.84% in 2025, a decline of +0.03pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 59.80% by 2026. Namibia ranked 110th globally.
Namibia’s labor force participation rate has risen steadily from 55.12 % in 1990 to 58.84 % in 2025, placing the country 110th globally. The upward trajectory peaked at 61.70 % in 2013, following a low of 53.50 % in 1997, indicating that structural reforms and demographic shifts have gradually expanded the share of the working‑age population that is economically active. The 2025 figure is closely aligned with peer economies such as Bangladesh (58.80 %) and Serbia (59.14 %), suggesting that Namibia’s labor market dynamics are comparable to those of both emerging and middle‑income nations. The 36‑year coverage shows a modest but persistent improvement, driven by higher female participation and modest gains in youth employment. Continued investment in skills development and inclusive labor policies could sustain this positive momentum, potentially pushing the participation rate above the 2025 level and narrowing the gap with higher‑ranking peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 60.74% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 60.27% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 59.80% | - | - |
| 2025 | 58.84% | −0.03pp | #110 |
| 2024 | 58.87% | −0.03pp | #111 |
| 2023 | 58.90% | −0.01pp | #114 |
| 2022 | 58.91% | +2.43pp | #114 |
| 2021 | 56.48% | +0.50pp | #126 |
| 2020 | 55.98% | −2.94pp | #125 |
| 2019 | 58.92% | +0.04pp | #116 |
| 2018 | 58.88% | −0.79pp | #120 |
| 2017 | 59.67% | −0.79pp | #108 |
| 2016 | 60.45% | −0.19pp | #99 |
| 2015 | 60.64% | −0.19pp | #97 |
| 2014 | 60.83% | −0.88pp | #94 |
| 2013 | 61.70% | +4.17pp | #88 |
| 2012 | 57.53% | +0.28pp | #127 |
| 2011 | 57.25% | +0.28pp | #127 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Namibia matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2009. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Namibia's labor force participation was 58.84% in 2025. Ranked 110th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Namibia's labor force participation peaked at 61.70% in 2013.
The lowest labor force participation in Namibia was 53.50% in 1997.
Namibia ranks 110th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Namibia's labor force participation is projected to reach 59.80% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Namibia in 2025 was 58.84%. This ranks 110th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_namibia_labor-force-participation,
title = {Namibia Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/namibia/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}