The current population of Namibia is 3,173,089 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 3,030,131 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth in 20 years).
- For the last 20 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of 2.97% per year.
- Namibia accounts for 0.04% of the world's population.
- Namibia is projected to reach 5.96M people in 2100.
- Namibia is ranked 134/197 by population and was ranked 143rd in 2006.
Namibia population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 5,958,153 | 0.09% |
| 2099 | 5,952,623 | 0.09% |
| 2098 | 5,947,142 | 0.08% |
| 2097 | 5,942,285 | 0.07% |
| 2096 | 5,938,162 | 0.13% |
| 2095 | 5,930,395 | 0.14% |
| 2094 | 5,922,248 | 0.19% |
| 2093 | 5,911,235 | 0.21% |
| 2092 | 5,899,026 | 0.21% |
| 2091 | 5,886,490 | 0.25% |
| 2090 | 5,871,938 | 0.23% |
| 2089 | 5,858,234 | 0.27% |
| 2088 | 5,842,720 | 0.29% |
| 2087 | 5,825,856 | 0.33% |
| 2086 | 5,806,643 | 0.3% |
| 2085 | 5,789,246 | 0.32% |
| 2084 | 5,771,050 | 0.34% |
| 2083 | 5,751,610 | 0.37% |
| 2082 | 5,730,648 | 0.41% |
| 2081 | 5,707,476 | 0.43% |
| 2080 | 5,682,842 | 0.41% |
| 2079 | 5,659,698 | 0.45% |
| 2078 | 5,634,313 | 0.47% |
| 2077 | 5,608,096 | 0.49% |
| 2076 | 5,580,829 | 0.54% |
| 2075 | 5,551,107 | 0.53% |
| 2074 | 5,522,025 | 0.51% |
| 2073 | 5,494,180 | 0.54% |
| 2072 | 5,464,749 | 0.56% |
| 2071 | 5,434,461 | 0.57% |
| 2070 | 5,403,822 | 0.6% |
| 2069 | 5,371,517 | 0.65% |
| 2068 | 5,336,950 | 0.68% |
| 2067 | 5,300,707 | 0.71% |
| 2066 | 5,263,191 | 0.69% |
| 2065 | 5,227,346 | 0.71% |
| 2064 | 5,190,323 | 0.77% |
| 2063 | 5,150,579 | 0.8% |
| 2062 | 5,109,760 | 0.81% |
| 2061 | 5,068,478 | 0.89% |
| 2060 | 5,023,587 | 0.88% |
| 2059 | 4,979,591 | 0.92% |
| 2058 | 4,933,964 | 0.94% |
| 2057 | 4,887,985 | 0.98% |
| 2056 | 4,840,537 | 1.04% |
| 2055 | 4,790,848 | 1.03% |
| 2054 | 4,741,942 | 1.08% |
| 2053 | 4,691,180 | 1.11% |
| 2052 | 4,639,835 | 1.14% |
| 2051 | 4,587,353 | 1.19% |
| 2050 | 4,533,502 | 1.13% |
| 2049 | 4,482,650 | 1.18% |
| 2048 | 4,430,309 | 1.3% |
| 2047 | 4,373,597 | 1.29% |
| 2046 | 4,318,050 | 1.38% |
| 2045 | 4,259,166 | 1.35% |
| 2044 | 4,202,338 | 1.39% |
| 2043 | 4,144,892 | 1.37% |
| 2042 | 4,088,713 | 1.4% |
| 2041 | 4,032,347 | 1.39% |
| 2040 | 3,976,987 | 1.44% |
| 2039 | 3,920,720 | 1.52% |
| 2038 | 3,862,015 | 1.51% |
| 2037 | 3,804,482 | 1.53% |
| 2036 | 3,747,072 | 1.57% |
| 2035 | 3,689,163 | 1.58% |
| 2034 | 3,631,737 | 1.59% |
| 2033 | 3,575,000 | 1.67% |
| 2032 | 3,516,310 | 1.74% |
| 2031 | 3,456,265 | 1.78% |
| 2030 | 3,395,964 | 1.78% |
| 2029 | 3,336,698 | 1.81% |
| 2028 | 3,277,428 | 1.88% |
| 2027 | 3,216,917 | 1.9% |
| 2026 | 3,156,839 | 2.01% |
| 2025 | 3,094,769 | 2.13% |
| 2024 | 3,030,131 | 2.26% |
| 2023 | 2,963,095 | 2.54% |
| 2022 | 2,889,662 | 2.81% |
| 2021 | 2,810,548 | 3% |
| 2020 | 2,728,762 | 2.95% |
| 2019 | 2,650,494 | 2.84% |
| 2018 | 2,577,327 | 2.81% |
| 2017 | 2,506,853 | 2.77% |
| 2016 | 2,439,213 | 2.73% |
| 2015 | 2,374,300 | 2.69% |
| 2014 | 2,312,139 | 2.65% |
| 2013 | 2,252,508 | 2.64% |
| 2012 | 2,194,654 | 2.25% |
| 2011 | 2,146,325 | 1.73% |
| 2010 | 2,109,811 | 1.56% |
| 2009 | 2,077,394 | 1.48% |
| 2008 | 2,047,056 | 1.41% |
| 2007 | 2,018,600 | 1.34% |
| 2006 | 1,991,888 | 1.29% |
| 2005 | 1,966,582 | 1.26% |
| 2004 | 1,942,082 | 1.28% |
| 2003 | 1,917,464 | 1.45% |
| 2002 | 1,889,970 | 1.77% |
| 2001 | 1,857,048 | 2.11% |
| 2000 | 1,818,647 | 2.38% |
| 1999 | 1,776,368 | 2.52% |
| 1998 | 1,732,745 | 2.57% |
| 1997 | 1,689,264 | 2.62% |
| 1996 | 1,646,103 | 2.74% |
| 1995 | 1,602,170 | 2.95% |
| 1994 | 1,556,304 | 3.16% |
| 1993 | 1,508,697 | 3.24% |
| 1992 | 1,461,322 | 3.22% |
| 1991 | 1,415,684 | 3.39% |
| 1990 | 1,369,303 | 6.23% |
| 1989 | 1,288,947 | 6.55% |
| 1988 | 1,209,696 | 3.58% |
| 1987 | 1,167,889 | 3.25% |
| 1986 | 1,131,081 | 3.12% |
| 1985 | 1,096,890 | 2.9% |
| 1984 | 1,065,989 | 2.74% |
| 1983 | 1,037,511 | 2.69% |
| 1982 | 1,010,308 | 1.79% |
| 1981 | 992,500 | 1.13% |
| 1980 | 981,434 | 1.93% |
| 1979 | 962,825 | 1.64% |
| 1978 | 947,269 | 1.74% |
| 1977 | 931,104 | 2.71% |
| 1976 | 906,566 | 2.9% |
| 1975 | 881,032 | 3.13% |
| 1974 | 854,320 | 3.06% |
| 1973 | 828,928 | 3.05% |
| 1972 | 804,399 | 3.05% |
| 1971 | 780,584 | 3% |
| 1970 | 757,868 | 2.95% |
| 1969 | 736,120 | 2.88% |
| 1968 | 715,542 | 2.8% |
| 1967 | 696,045 | 2.71% |
| 1966 | 677,655 | 2.59% |
| 1965 | 660,558 | 2.49% |
| 1964 | 644,530 | 2.37% |
| 1963 | 629,589 | 2.25% |
| 1962 | 615,759 | 2.1% |
| 1961 | 603,067 | 1.96% |
| 1960 | 591,465 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/namibia | CC BY 
Namibia has a population of 3.17M as of 2026, compared to 2.44M in 2016, 1.99M in 2006, and 1.65M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 3.01% per year. Namibia is ranked 20th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Namibia will have 4,318,050 people (36.1% growth) with a rank change from 134th to 131st.
By the year 2100, Namibia's population is projected to grow by 87.8% from its current level to 5.96M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | 1,866 |
| 2024 | - | - | 4,211 |
| 2023 | 70,110 | 58,435 | 11,675 |
| 2022 | 76,746 | 54,534 | 22,212 |
| 2021 | 81,487 | 50,160 | 31,327 |
| 2020 | 82,090 | 55,034 | 27,056 |
| 2019 | 74,445 | 54,769 | 19,676 |
| 2018 | 71,890 | 53,970 | 17,920 |
| 2017 | 69,055 | 52,975 | 16,080 |
| 2016 | 66,230 | 52,228 | 14,002 |
| 2015 | 63,601 | 50,846 | 12,755 |
| 2014 | 60,715 | 49,581 | 11,134 |
| 2013 | 58,549 | 47,801 | 10,748 |
| 2012 | 57,161 | 46,204 | 10,957 |
| 2011 | 39,490 | 43,557 | -4,067 |
| 2010 | 33,528 | 42,046 | -8,518 |
| 2009 | 31,316 | 39,942 | -8,626 |
| 2008 | 29,372 | 38,147 | -8,775 |
| 2007 | 27,525 | 36,430 | -8,905 |
| 2006 | 25,898 | 34,690 | -8,792 |
| 2005 | 24,714 | 32,909 | -8,195 |
| 2004 | 24,286 | 31,478 | -7,192 |
| 2003 | 24,962 | 31,115 | -6,153 |
| 2002 | 30,034 | 31,947 | -1,913 |
| 2001 | 35,811 | 32,942 | 2,869 |
| 2000 | 40,989 | 35,280 | 5,709 |
| 1999 | 43,566 | 37,233 | 6,333 |
| 1998 | 43,680 | 37,500 | 6,180 |
| 1997 | 43,279 | 37,256 | 6,023 |
| 1996 | 43,043 | 37,177 | 5,866 |
| 1995 | 44,831 | 39,119 | 5,712 |
| 1994 | 46,894 | 41,316 | 5,578 |
| 1993 | 48,325 | 42,861 | 5,464 |
| 1992 | 46,432 | 43,945 | 2,487 |
| 1991 | 44,832 | 44,523 | 309 |
| 1990 | 47,925 | 43,956 | 3,969 |
| 1989 | 112,787 | 37,715 | 75,072 |
| 1988 | 45,714 | 34,798 | 10,916 |
| 1987 | 37,899 | 33,340 | 4,559 |
| 1986 | 35,717 | 31,764 | 3,953 |
| 1985 | 32,665 | 30,575 | 2,090 |
| 1984 | 29,128 | 29,395 | -267 |
| 1983 | 27,826 | 28,307 | -481 |
| 1982 | 26,585 | 27,474 | -889 |
| 1981 | 9,037 | 27,938 | -18,901 |
| 1980 | 13,101 | 28,142 | -15,041 |
| 1979 | 24,112 | 28,930 | -4,818 |
| 1978 | 6,994 | 29,821 | -22,827 |
| 1977 | 25,334 | 29,241 | -3,907 |
| 1976 | 23,737 | 28,785 | -5,048 |
| 1975 | 27,329 | 27,882 | -553 |
| 1974 | 26,100 | 26,844 | -744 |
| 1973 | 24,688 | 25,754 | -1,066 |
| 1972 | 24,370 | 24,606 | -236 |
| 1971 | 23,259 | 23,467 | -208 |
| 1970 | 22,170 | 22,414 | -244 |
| 1969 | 21,330 | 21,387 | -57 |
| 1968 | 19,834 | 20,470 | -636 |
| 1967 | 19,159 | 19,498 | -339 |
| 1966 | 17,612 | 18,635 | -1,023 |
| 1965 | 16,575 | 17,902 | -1,327 |
| 1964 | 15,474 | 17,134 | -1,660 |
| 1963 | 14,414 | 16,430 | -2,016 |
| 1962 | 13,253 | 15,656 | -2,403 |
| 1961 | 12,129 | 14,936 | -2,807 |
| 1960 | 11,080 | 14,307 | -3,227 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/namibia | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 74.3% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 people).
As of 2024, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 103,826 and 4.9% in 2010.
Namibia population clock
Namibia
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
3173089
|
134/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.04% | 134/197 |
| One net population change |
7.84 minutes
|
101/197 |
| One birth every |
6.85 minutes
|
117/196 |
| One death every |
28.8 minutes
|
141/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +184 | 101/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +67,036 | 101/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.26% | 41/197 |
| One migration net change every |
4.71 hours
|
57/196 |
| Annual migration change | +1,866 | 57/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 116,035 | 127/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.8% | 108/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
Namibia
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Windhoek | 431K |
| Walvis Bay | 103K |
| Swakopmund | 75.9K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Namibia population statistics
|
Namibia
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.8 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 25.5 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 22.1 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 3.21 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 9.93 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/namibia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.