Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Namibia
Namibia: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 50.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Namibia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 50.9% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Namibia peaked at 50.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 1950.
That places Namibia 167th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.1% | 15.5% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.2% | 23.4% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.3% | 24.9% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.1% | 25.6% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.7% | 26.9% | 31.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.2% | 32.1% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.1% | 41.8% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.7% | 48.5% | 50.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 164 Romania 52.2% compare
- 165 Isle of Man 52.1% compare
- 166 Uzbekistan 51.0% compare
- 168 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 48.0% compare
- 169 Turkmenistan 47.1% compare
- 170 Guinea-Bissau 46.7% compare
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 share of population living in urban and rural areas in Namibia?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Namibia was 50.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 50.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 1950.
- How does Namibia rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Namibia ranks 167th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.