Population in Namibia
Namibia: Population was 2.96 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.96 million people
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
139th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.96 million people
in 2023
All-time low
514,598 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Namibia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Namibia is 2.96 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Namibia peaked at 2.96 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 514,598 people, in 1950.
That places Namibia 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Namibia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 514,598 people | — |
| 1951 | 520,398 people | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 526,639 people | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 533,236 people | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 540,017 people | +1.3% |
| 1955 | 547,091 people | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 554,566 people | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 562,592 people | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 571,341 people | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 580,927 people | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 591,473 people | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 603,074 people | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 615,760 people | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 629,592 people | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 644,539 people | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 660,568 people | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 677,663 people | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 696,051 people | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 715,551 people | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 736,125 people | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 757,876 people | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 780,588 people | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 804,411 people | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 828,932 people | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 854,325 people | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 881,041 people | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 906,574 people | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 931,118 people | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 947,277 people | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 962,826 people | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 981,440 people | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 992,508 people | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 1.01 million people | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 1.04 million people | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 1.07 million people | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 1.10 million people | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 1.13 million people | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 1.17 million people | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 1.21 million people | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 1.29 million people | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 1.37 million people | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 1.42 million people | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 1.46 million people | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1.51 million people | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 1.56 million people | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 1.60 million people | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 1.65 million people | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 1.69 million people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 1.73 million people | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.78 million people | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 1.82 million people | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.86 million people | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 1.89 million people | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 1.92 million people | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 1.94 million people | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 1.97 million people | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 1.99 million people | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 2.02 million people | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 2.05 million people | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 2.08 million people | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 2.11 million people | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 2.15 million people | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 2.19 million people | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 2.25 million people | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 2.31 million people | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 2.37 million people | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 2.44 million people | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 2.51 million people | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.58 million people | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 2.65 million people | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 2.73 million people | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 2.81 million people | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.89 million people | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 2.96 million people | +2.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 2.96 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 24% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 2.96 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 545,140 people | 514,598 people | 580,927 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 657,040 people | 591,473 people | 736,125 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 865,497 people | 757,876 people | 962,826 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million people | 981,440 people | 1.29 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.58 million people | 1.37 million people | 1.78 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.95 million people | 1.82 million people | 2.08 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.36 million people | 2.11 million people | 2.65 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.85 million people | 2.73 million people | 2.96 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More population data for Namibia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1475 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 357,079 people (2100)
- Population density 7.16 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4525 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.52 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Namibia?
- Population in Namibia was 2.96 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.96 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 514,598 people in 1950.
- How does Namibia rank for population?
- Namibia ranks 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. 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 Population. 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).
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.