Namibia Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Namibia's poverty rate was 22.90% in 2015, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 40.7% decrease from 2014. Data from World Bank, covering 1993–2015.
Overview
Namibia's poverty rate stood at 22.90% in 2015, a decline of +15.70pp from 2009. Namibia ranked 79th globally.
Namibia’s poverty rate fell dramatically from an all‑time peak of 60.30 % in 1993 to a trough of 22.90 % in 2015, placing the country 79th globally in the latest World Bank series. The decline, recorded over a 22‑year span, reflects sustained economic growth, expanded social protection programmes and improved access to basic services, especially in rural areas. While the 2015 figure remains higher than Botswana’s 21.40 % and Indonesia’s 21.60 %, it is substantially lower than Nigeria’s 35.80 % and Kenya’s 37.70 %, underscoring Namibia’s relative progress among peers with similar development challenges. The reduction in poverty coincided with the diversification of the mining sector and increased fiscal capacity for targeted subsidies, which together helped lift households out of extreme deprivation. Continued investment in education, renewable energy and inclusive agriculture will be crucial to maintain the downward trajectory, as any slowdown in growth or fiscal tightening could stall further improvements in living standards.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 22.90% | −15.70pp | #79 |
| 2009 | 38.60% | −9.00pp | #77 |
| 2003 | 47.60% | −12.70pp | #59 |
| 1993 | 60.30% | – | #32 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Namibia matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2009. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Namibia's poverty rate was 22.90% in 2015. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 40.7% decrease from the previous year.
Namibia's poverty rate peaked at 60.30% in 1993.
The lowest poverty rate in Namibia was 22.90% in 2015.
Namibia ranks 79th globally in poverty rate as of 2015.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Namibia in 2015 was 22.90%. This ranks 79th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_namibia_poverty-rate,
title = {Namibia Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/namibia/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}