Annual population growth in Namibia
Namibia: Annual population growth was 73,434 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
73,434
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
99th
of 236 countries
All-time high
81,792
in 2021
All-time low
5,800
in 1951
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Namibia, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in Namibia stood at 73,434.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Namibia peaked at 81,792 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5,800, 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 population growth in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 5,800 | — |
| 1952 | 6,241 | +7.6% |
| 1953 | 6,597 | +5.7% |
| 1954 | 6,781 | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 7,074 | +4.3% |
| 1956 | 7,475 | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 8,026 | +7.4% |
| 1958 | 8,749 | +9.0% |
| 1959 | 9,586 | +9.6% |
| 1960 | 10,546 | +10.0% |
| 1961 | 11,601 | +10.0% |
| 1962 | 12,686 | +9.4% |
| 1963 | 13,832 | +9.0% |
| 1964 | 14,947 | +8.1% |
| 1965 | 16,029 | +7.2% |
| 1966 | 17,095 | +6.7% |
| 1967 | 18,388 | +7.6% |
| 1968 | 19,500 | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 20,574 | +5.5% |
| 1970 | 21,751 | +5.7% |
| 1971 | 22,712 | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 23,823 | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 24,521 | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 25,393 | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 26,716 | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 25,533 | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 24,544 | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 16,159 | -34.2% |
| 1979 | 15,549 | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 18,614 | +19.7% |
| 1981 | 11,068 | -40.5% |
| 1982 | 17,807 | +60.9% |
| 1983 | 27,204 | +52.8% |
| 1984 | 28,477 | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 30,900 | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 34,187 | +10.6% |
| 1987 | 36,815 | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 41,802 | +13.5% |
| 1989 | 79,256 | +89.6% |
| 1990 | 80,353 | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 46,380 | -42.3% |
| 1992 | 45,635 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 47,374 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 47,617 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 45,866 | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 43,926 | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 43,167 | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 43,473 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 43,624 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 42,279 | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 38,409 | -9.2% |
| 2002 | 32,917 | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 27,493 | -16.5% |
| 2004 | 24,618 | -10.5% |
| 2005 | 24,494 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 25,309 | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 26,717 | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 28,452 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 30,341 | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 32,415 | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 36,516 | +12.7% |
| 2012 | 48,325 | +32.3% |
| 2013 | 57,849 | +19.7% |
| 2014 | 59,638 | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 62,162 | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 64,914 | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 67,635 | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 70,473 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 73,172 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 78,261 | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 81,792 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 79,116 | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 73,434 | -7.2% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 73,434 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 167,005, 44% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 73,434 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940, 20% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth 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 | 79,256 |
| 1982 | +60.9% | 11,068 | 17,807 |
| 1983 | +52.8% | 17,807 | 27,204 |
| 1991 | -42.3% | 80,353 | 46,380 |
| 1981 | -40.5% | 18,614 | 11,068 |
| 1978 | -34.2% | 24,544 | 16,159 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7,370 | 5,800 | 9,586 | 9 |
| 1960s | 15,520 | 10,546 | 20,574 | 10 |
| 1970s | 22,670 | 15,549 | 26,716 | 10 |
| 1980s | 32,613 | 11,068 | 79,256 | 10 |
| 1990s | 48,742 | 43,167 | 80,353 | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,103 | 24,494 | 42,279 | 10 |
| 2010s | 57,310 | 32,415 | 73,172 | 10 |
| 2020s | 78,151 | 73,434 | 81,792 | 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)
- Population growth rate 0.091 (2100)
- Population density 7.16 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 357,079 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Namibia?
- Annual population growth in Namibia was 73,434 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 81,792 in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,800 in 1951.
- How does Namibia rank for annual population growth?
- Namibia ranks 99th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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