Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Namibia
Namibia: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 1.57 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.57 million people
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
145th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.57 million people
in 2025
All-time low
80,009 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people 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 people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Namibia stood at 1.57 million people. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 45.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Namibia peaked at 1.57 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 80,009 people, in 1950.
Namibia ranks 145th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Namibia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 80,009 people | — |
| 1951 | 83,699 people | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 88,246 people | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 93,845 people | +6.3% |
| 1954 | 100,180 people | +6.8% |
| 1955 | 106,988 people | +6.8% |
| 1956 | 114,002 people | +6.6% |
| 1957 | 120,951 people | +6.1% |
| 1958 | 127,548 people | +5.5% |
| 1959 | 133,483 people | +4.7% |
| 1960 | 138,373 people | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 142,556 people | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 146,852 people | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 151,352 people | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 156,056 people | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 160,966 people | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 166,084 people | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 171,471 people | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 177,087 people | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 182,935 people | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 189,041 people | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 195,364 people | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 201,944 people | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 208,694 people | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 215,660 people | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 222,969 people | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 229,999 people | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 236,807 people | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 241,523 people | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 246,129 people | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 251,578 people | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 255,168 people | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 260,583 people | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 268,543 people | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 276,987 people | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 286,240 people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 296,565 people | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 307,824 people | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 320,694 people | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 343,888 people | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 367,893 people | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 383,248 people | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 399,296 people | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 417,620 people | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 437,856 people | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 459,360 people | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 481,933 people | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 505,743 people | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 530,943 people | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 557,289 people | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 584,093 people | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 610,180 people | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 635,898 people | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 662,407 people | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 690,131 people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 719,513 people | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 750,388 people | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 782,479 people | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 815,400 people | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 848,667 people | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 881,787 people | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 914,927 people | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 952,050 people | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 993,596 people | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 1.04 million people | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 1.08 million people | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 1.13 million people | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 1.17 million people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 1.22 million people | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 1.27 million people | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 1.32 million people | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 1.38 million people | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 1.43 million people | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 1.48 million people | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 1.53 million people | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 1.57 million people | +3.0% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 1.57 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 24% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 1.57 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 104,895 people | 80,009 people | 133,483 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 159,373 people | 138,373 people | 182,935 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 218,813 people | 189,041 people | 246,129 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 286,807 people | 251,578 people | 343,888 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 454,118 people | 367,893 people | 557,289 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 709,916 people | 584,093 people | 848,667 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.07 million people | 881,787 people | 1.27 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.45 million people | 1.32 million people | 1.57 million people | 6 |
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Namibia?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Namibia was 1.57 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.57 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 80,009 people in 1950.
- How does Namibia rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Namibia ranks 145th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.