Population in Namibia
Namibia: Population was 2.96 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 5,258 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.21 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.21 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.21 live births per woman (2023)
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
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.