Total population (thousands) in Namibia
Namibia: Total population (thousands) was 3,062 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3,062 thousands
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
138th
of 233 countries
All-time high
3,062 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
746.78 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Namibia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Namibia stood at 3,062 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 30.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Namibia peaked at 3,062 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 746.78 thousands, in 1970.
Namibia ranks 138th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 746.78 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 768.95 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 792.21 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 816.58 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 841.27 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 867.37 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 894.7 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 918.43 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 943.77 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 950.76 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 974.88 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 987.98 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 997.02 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 1,024 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 1,051 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 1,081 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 1,113 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 1,149 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 1,187 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 1,233 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 1,345 thousands | +9.2% |
| 1991 | 1,393 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 1,438 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1,485 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 1,533 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 1,580 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 1,625 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 1,668 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 1,711 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1,755 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 1,798 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 1,839 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 1,875 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 1,905 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 1,930 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 1,954 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 1,979 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 2,005 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 2,032 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 2,062 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 2,093 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 2,127 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 2,166 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 2,223 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 2,282 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 2,342 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 2,406 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 2,472 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 2,541 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 2,613 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 2,688 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 2,770 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 2,851 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 2,928 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 2,998 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 3,062 thousands | +2.1% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 3,062 thousands is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 25% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 3,062 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 854.08 thousands | 746.78 thousands | 950.76 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,080 thousands | 974.88 thousands | 1,233 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,553 thousands | 1,345 thousands | 1,755 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,938 thousands | 1,798 thousands | 2,062 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,327 thousands | 2,093 thousands | 2,613 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,883 thousands | 2,688 thousands | 3,062 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Namibia?
- Total population in Namibia was 3,062 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 3,062 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 746.78 thousands in 1970.
- How does Namibia rank for total population?
- Namibia ranks 138th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release