Annual change in population in Namibia
Namibia: Annual change in population was 73,434 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
73,434 people
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
99th
of 236 countries
All-time high
81,792 people
in 2021
All-time low
5,800 people
in 1951
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Namibia, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual change in population in Namibia stood at 73,434 people.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Namibia peaked at 81,792 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5,800 people, in 1951.
Namibia ranks 99th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Namibia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 5,800 people | — |
| 1952 | 6,241 people | +7.6% |
| 1953 | 6,597 people | +5.7% |
| 1954 | 6,781 people | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 7,074 people | +4.3% |
| 1956 | 7,475 people | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 8,026 people | +7.4% |
| 1958 | 8,749 people | +9.0% |
| 1959 | 9,586 people | +9.6% |
| 1960 | 10,546 people | +10.0% |
| 1961 | 11,601 people | +10.0% |
| 1962 | 12,686 people | +9.4% |
| 1963 | 13,832 people | +9.0% |
| 1964 | 14,947 people | +8.1% |
| 1965 | 16,029 people | +7.2% |
| 1966 | 17,095 people | +6.7% |
| 1967 | 18,388 people | +7.6% |
| 1968 | 19,500 people | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 20,574 people | +5.5% |
| 1970 | 21,751 people | +5.7% |
| 1971 | 22,712 people | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 23,823 people | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 24,521 people | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 25,393 people | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 26,716 people | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 25,533 people | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 24,544 people | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 16,159 people | -34.2% |
| 1979 | 15,549 people | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 18,614 people | +19.7% |
| 1981 | 11,068 people | -40.5% |
| 1982 | 17,807 people | +60.9% |
| 1983 | 27,204 people | +52.8% |
| 1984 | 28,477 people | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 30,900 people | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 34,187 people | +10.6% |
| 1987 | 36,815 people | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 41,802 people | +13.5% |
| 1989 | 79,256 people | +89.6% |
| 1990 | 80,353 people | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 46,380 people | -42.3% |
| 1992 | 45,635 people | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 47,374 people | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 47,617 people | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 45,866 people | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 43,926 people | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 43,167 people | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 43,473 people | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 43,624 people | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 42,279 people | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 38,409 people | -9.2% |
| 2002 | 32,917 people | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 27,493 people | -16.5% |
| 2004 | 24,618 people | -10.5% |
| 2005 | 24,494 people | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 25,309 people | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 26,717 people | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 28,452 people | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 30,341 people | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 32,415 people | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 36,516 people | +12.7% |
| 2012 | 48,325 people | +32.3% |
| 2013 | 57,849 people | +19.7% |
| 2014 | 59,638 people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 62,162 people | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 64,914 people | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 67,635 people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 70,473 people | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 73,172 people | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 78,261 people | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 81,792 people | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 79,116 people | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 73,434 people | -7.2% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 73,434 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 167,005 people, 44% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 73,434 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940 people, 20% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Namibia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +89.6% | 41,802 people | 79,256 people |
| 1982 | +60.9% | 11,068 people | 17,807 people |
| 1983 | +52.8% | 17,807 people | 27,204 people |
| 1991 | -42.3% | 80,353 people | 46,380 people |
| 1981 | -40.5% | 18,614 people | 11,068 people |
| 1978 | -34.2% | 24,544 people | 16,159 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7,370 people | 5,800 people | 9,586 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 15,520 people | 10,546 people | 20,574 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 22,670 people | 15,549 people | 26,716 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 32,613 people | 11,068 people | 79,256 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 48,742 people | 43,167 people | 80,353 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,103 people | 24,494 people | 42,279 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 57,310 people | 32,415 people | 73,172 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 78,151 people | 73,434 people | 81,792 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More population data for Namibia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.6736 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1475 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,780 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4525 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 7.16 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 357,079 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Namibia?
- Annual change in population in Namibia was 73,434 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 81,792 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,800 people in 1951.
- How does Namibia rank for annual change in population?
- Namibia ranks 99th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.