Natural population growth in Namibia
Namibia: Natural population growth was 1.97 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.97
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
50th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.21
in 1990
All-time low
1.62
in 2004
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Natural population growth in Namibia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for natural population growth in Namibia is 1.97, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth in Namibia peaked at 3.21 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.62, in 2004.
That places Namibia 50th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Natural population growth in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.89 | — |
| 1951 | 1.95 | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 2 | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 2.05 | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 2.1 | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 2.15 | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 2.2 | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 2.25 | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 2.31 | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 2.36 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 2.42 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 2.48 | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 2.54 | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 2.61 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 2.66 | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 2.71 | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 2.75 | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 2.8 | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 2.86 | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 2.91 | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 2.96 | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 3.01 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 3.06 | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 3.11 | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 3.14 | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 3.16 | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 3.18 | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 3.14 | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 3.15 | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 3 | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 2.87 | -4.6% |
| 1981 | 2.81 | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 2.72 | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 2.73 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 2.76 | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 2.79 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 2.81 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 2.85 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 2.88 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 2.93 | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 3.21 | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 3.15 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 3.01 | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 2.84 | -5.5% |
| 1994 | 2.65 | -6.6% |
| 1995 | 2.44 | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 2.26 | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 2.21 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 2.16 | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 2.1 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 1.94 | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 1.77 | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 1.69 | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 1.62 | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1.62 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 1.67 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 1.74 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 1.8 | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 1.86 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 1.92 | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1.99 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 2.03 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 2.11 | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 2.12 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 2.14 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 2.14 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 2.14 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.11 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 2.09 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 2.07 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 2.02 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 1.78 | -11.5% |
| 2022 | 1.89 | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 1.97 | +4.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 1.97 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.93, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 1.97 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.39, 83% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.13 | 1.89 | 2.36 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.67 | 2.42 | 2.91 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.09 | 2.96 | 3.18 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.81 | 2.72 | 2.93 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6 | 2.1 | 3.21 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.77 | 1.62 | 1.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1 | 1.99 | 2.14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.92 | 1.78 | 2.02 | 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 natural population growth in Namibia?
- Natural population growth in Namibia was 1.97 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.21 in 1990.
- What is the lowest natural population growth recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.62 in 2004.
- How does Namibia rank for natural population growth?
- Namibia ranks 50th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Natural population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).