Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Namibia
Namibia: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 20.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Namibia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 20.5% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 60.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Namibia peaked at 20.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Namibia 172nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 5.4% | — |
| 1985 | 6.5% | +19.3% |
| 1990 | 7.3% | +12.6% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | +13.1% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | +28.3% |
| 2005 | 11.5% | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 12.7% | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | +27.0% |
| 2020 | 20.5% | +26.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.9% | 5.4% | 6.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 7.3% | 8.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.0% | 10.6% | 11.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.5% | 12.7% | 16.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Namibia?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Namibia was 20.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Namibia rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Namibia ranks 172nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.