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Population in Namibia compared to Rwanda: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 4.72 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Namibia vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Rwanda
2100 5,958,153 33,092,520
2099 5,952,623 32,987,847
2098 5,947,142 32,907,335
2097 5,942,285 32,832,706
2096 5,938,162 32,747,490
2095 5,930,395 32,615,044
2094 5,922,248 32,529,590
2093 5,911,235 32,396,544
2092 5,899,026 32,274,083
2091 5,886,490 32,171,077
2090 5,871,938 32,068,626
2089 5,858,234 31,872,593
2088 5,842,720 31,726,882
2087 5,825,856 31,533,364
2086 5,806,643 31,379,315
2085 5,789,246 31,235,000
2084 5,771,050 31,092,940
2083 5,751,610 30,917,707
2082 5,730,648 30,733,578
2081 5,707,476 30,557,819
2080 5,682,842 30,367,298
2079 5,659,698 30,176,627
2078 5,634,313 29,997,866
2077 5,608,096 29,800,561
2076 5,580,829 29,627,021
2075 5,551,107 29,423,503
2074 5,522,025 29,225,643
2073 5,494,180 29,007,777
2072 5,464,749 28,780,763
2071 5,434,461 28,560,382
2070 5,403,822 28,316,533
2069 5,371,517 28,103,541
2068 5,336,950 27,854,906
2067 5,300,707 27,591,747
2066 5,263,191 27,355,659
2065 5,227,346 27,084,704
2064 5,190,323 26,821,315
2063 5,150,579 26,543,184
2062 5,109,760 26,296,132
2061 5,068,478 25,985,356
2060 5,023,587 25,712,904
2059 4,979,591 25,437,446
2058 4,933,964 25,106,242
2057 4,887,985 24,837,928
2056 4,840,537 24,566,784
2055 4,790,848 24,266,669
2054 4,741,942 23,976,914
2053 4,691,180 23,690,426
2052 4,639,835 23,406,346
2051 4,587,353 23,099,207
2050 4,533,502 22,800,250
2049 4,482,650 22,484,698
2048 4,430,309 22,157,938
2047 4,373,597 21,834,786
2046 4,318,050 21,540,566
2045 4,259,166 21,215,262
2044 4,202,338 20,902,695
2043 4,144,892 20,535,605
2042 4,088,713 20,201,608
2041 4,032,347 19,832,577
2040 3,976,987 19,463,015
2039 3,920,720 19,096,860
2038 3,862,015 18,761,626
2037 3,804,482 18,421,864
2036 3,747,072 18,116,691
2035 3,689,163 17,753,910
2034 3,631,737 17,421,234
2033 3,575,000 17,089,349
2032 3,516,310 16,811,505
2031 3,456,265 16,485,559
2030 3,395,964 16,167,916
2029 3,336,698 15,858,862
2028 3,277,428 15,544,959
2027 3,216,917 15,207,733
2026 3,156,839 14,888,776
2025 3,094,769 14,560,205
2024 3,030,131 14,256,567
2023 2,963,095 13,954,471
2022 2,889,662 13,651,030
2021 2,810,548 13,355,260
2020 2,728,762 13,065,837
2019 2,650,494 12,776,103
2018 2,577,327 12,487,996
2017 2,506,853 12,202,060
2016 2,439,213 11,919,183
2015 2,374,300 11,640,022
2014 2,312,139 11,364,757
2013 2,252,508 11,093,340
2012 2,194,654 10,829,901
2011 2,146,325 10,573,733
2010 2,109,811 10,317,553
2009 2,077,394 10,060,432
2008 2,047,056 9,804,269
2007 2,018,600 9,549,933
2006 1,991,888 9,299,246
2005 1,966,582 9,054,528
2004 1,942,082 8,816,844
2003 1,917,464 8,586,875
2002 1,889,970 8,400,180
2001 1,857,048 8,287,094
2000 1,818,647 8,213,931
1999 1,776,368 8,147,912
1998 1,732,745 8,081,681
1997 1,689,264 7,755,238
1996 1,646,103 6,708,764
1995 1,602,170 5,674,118
1994 1,556,304 6,792,352
1993 1,508,697 7,981,132
1992 1,461,322 7,683,266
1991 1,415,684 7,526,966
1990 1,369,303 7,375,307
1989 1,288,947 7,184,706
1988 1,209,696 6,968,071
1987 1,167,889 6,749,493
1986 1,131,081 6,531,881
1985 1,096,890 6,317,228
1984 1,065,989 6,107,627
1983 1,037,511 5,905,311
1982 1,010,308 5,711,549
1981 992,500 5,527,230
1980 981,434 5,353,259
1979 962,825 5,189,541
1978 947,269 5,035,171
1977 931,104 4,888,240
1976 906,566 4,745,954
1975 881,032 4,607,728
1974 854,320 4,474,228
1973 828,928 4,345,047
1972 804,399 4,220,335
1971 780,584 4,100,044
1970 757,868 3,980,669
1969 736,120 3,861,271
1968 715,542 3,744,010
1967 696,045 3,629,577
1966 677,655 3,521,626
1965 660,558 3,423,210
1964 644,530 3,334,834
1963 629,589 3,258,890
1962 615,759 3,186,025
1961 603,067 3,106,779
1960 591,465 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Namibia's population will grow by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia Rwanda
2100 0.09% 0.32%
2099 0.09% 0.24%
2098 0.08% 0.23%
2097 0.07% 0.26%
2096 0.13% 0.41%
2095 0.14% 0.26%
2094 0.19% 0.41%
2093 0.21% 0.38%
2092 0.21% 0.32%
2091 0.25% 0.32%
2090 0.23% 0.62%
2089 0.27% 0.46%
2088 0.29% 0.61%
2087 0.33% 0.49%
2086 0.3% 0.46%
2085 0.32% 0.46%
2084 0.34% 0.57%
2083 0.37% 0.6%
2082 0.41% 0.58%
2081 0.43% 0.63%
2080 0.41% 0.63%
2079 0.45% 0.6%
2078 0.47% 0.66%
2077 0.49% 0.59%
2076 0.54% 0.69%
2075 0.53% 0.68%
2074 0.51% 0.75%
2073 0.54% 0.79%
2072 0.56% 0.77%
2071 0.57% 0.86%
2070 0.6% 0.76%
2069 0.65% 0.89%
2068 0.68% 0.95%
2067 0.71% 0.86%
2066 0.69% 1%
2065 0.71% 0.98%
2064 0.77% 1.05%
2063 0.8% 0.94%
2062 0.81% 1.2%
2061 0.89% 1.06%
2060 0.88% 1.08%
2059 0.92% 1.32%
2058 0.94% 1.08%
2057 0.98% 1.1%
2056 1.04% 1.24%
2055 1.03% 1.21%
2054 1.08% 1.21%
2053 1.11% 1.21%
2052 1.14% 1.33%
2051 1.19% 1.31%
2050 1.13% 1.4%
2049 1.18% 1.47%
2048 1.3% 1.48%
2047 1.29% 1.37%
2046 1.38% 1.53%
2045 1.35% 1.5%
2044 1.39% 1.79%
2043 1.37% 1.65%
2042 1.4% 1.86%
2041 1.39% 1.9%
2040 1.44% 1.92%
2039 1.52% 1.79%
2038 1.51% 1.84%
2037 1.53% 1.68%
2036 1.57% 2.04%
2035 1.58% 1.91%
2034 1.59% 1.94%
2033 1.67% 1.65%
2032 1.74% 1.98%
2031 1.78% 1.96%
2030 1.78% 1.95%
2029 1.81% 2.02%
2028 1.88% 2.22%
2027 1.9% 2.14%
2026 2.01% 2.26%
2025 2.13% 2.13%
2024 2.26% 2.16%
2023 2.54% 2.22%
2022 2.81% 2.21%
2021 3% 2.22%
2020 2.95% 2.27%
2019 2.84% 2.31%
2018 2.81% 2.34%
2017 2.77% 2.37%
2016 2.73% 2.4%
2015 2.69% 2.42%
2014 2.65% 2.45%
2013 2.64% 2.43%
2012 2.25% 2.42%
2011 1.73% 2.48%
2010 1.56% 2.56%
2009 1.48% 2.61%
2008 1.41% 2.66%
2007 1.34% 2.7%
2006 1.29% 2.7%
2005 1.26% 2.7%
2004 1.28% 2.68%
2003 1.45% 2.22%
2002 1.77% 1.36%
2001 2.11% 0.89%
2000 2.38% 0.81%
1999 2.52% 0.82%
1998 2.57% 4.21%
1997 2.62% 15.6%
1996 2.74% 18.2%
1995 2.95% -16.5%
1994 3.16% -14.9%
1993 3.24% 3.88%
1992 3.22% 2.08%
1991 3.39% 2.06%
1990 6.23% 2.65%
1989 6.55% 3.11%
1988 3.58% 3.24%
1987 3.25% 3.33%
1986 3.12% 3.4%
1985 2.9% 3.43%
1984 2.74% 3.43%
1983 2.69% 3.39%
1982 1.79% 3.33%
1981 1.13% 3.25%
1980 1.93% 3.15%
1979 1.64% 3.07%
1978 1.74% 3.01%
1977 2.71% 3%
1976 2.9% 3%
1975 3.13% 2.98%
1974 3.06% 2.97%
1973 3.05% 2.96%
1972 3.05% 2.93%
1971 3% 3%
1970 2.95% 3.09%
1969 2.88% 3.13%
1968 2.8% 3.15%
1967 2.71% 3.07%
1966 2.59% 2.87%
1965 2.49% 2.65%
1964 2.37% 2.33%
1963 2.25% 2.29%
1962 2.1% 2.55%
1961 1.96% 2.8%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/namibia/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Namibia grew by 2.26%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Namibia Rwanda
Current population
3173089
14975051
Population rank 134/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.18%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
6.85 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
28.8 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +184 +828
Annual growth/decline +67,036 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 45/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +1,866 +6,282
Net migration rank 57/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - 6,282
2024 - 4,211 - -15,582
2023 58,435 11,675 312,762 -9,001
2022 54,534 22,212 312,145 -9,001
2021 50,160 31,327 309,895 -21,492
2020 55,034 27,056 312,692 -22,251
2019 54,769 19,676 313,525 -24,492
2018 53,970 17,920 312,512 -25,323
2017 52,975 16,080 310,323 -25,634
2016 52,228 14,002 305,549 -24,474
2015 50,846 12,755 299,114 -21,862
2014 49,581 11,134 292,779 -19,505
2013 47,801 10,748 286,331 -16,779
2012 46,204 10,957 282,584 -25,260
2011 43,557 -4,067 282,922 -27,915
2010 42,046 -8,518 286,848 -29,501
2009 39,942 -8,626 287,034 -30,128
2008 38,147 -8,775 287,334 -31,913
2007 36,430 -8,905 285,791 -32,537
2006 34,690 -8,792 282,149 -34,008
2005 32,909 -8,195 275,121 -33,830
2004 31,478 -7,192 265,273 -31,214
2003 31,115 -6,153 251,243 -25,355
2002 31,947 -1,913 239,036 -91,518
2001 32,942 2,869 230,845 -152,197
2000 35,280 5,709 221,276 -153,588
1999 37,233 6,333 210,518 -146,162
1998 37,500 6,180 197,185 -129,089
1997 37,256 6,023 174,687 410,106
1996 37,177 5,866 140,455 1,367,700
1995 39,119 5,712 121,137 439,995
1994 41,316 5,578 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 42,861 5,464 183,926 236,110
1992 43,945 2,487 188,025 -12,334
1991 44,523 309 196,431 -59,519
1990 43,956 3,969 207,895 -41,483
1989 37,715 75,072 217,632 -2,826
1988 34,798 10,916 223,759 -5,285
1987 33,340 4,559 225,744 -7,062
1986 31,764 3,953 225,526 -8,982
1985 30,575 2,090 223,794 -11,031
1984 29,395 -267 219,337 -12,899
1983 28,307 -481 212,750 -14,560
1982 27,474 -889 205,147 -15,818
1981 27,938 -18,901 195,769 -16,453
1980 28,142 -15,041 184,988 -16,359
1979 28,930 -4,818 174,477 -15,669
1978 29,821 -22,827 163,779 -13,838
1977 29,241 -3,907 155,011 -11,084
1976 28,785 -5,048 147,665 -7,027
1975 27,882 -553 140,596 -4,791
1974 26,844 -744 135,743 -4,535
1973 25,754 -1,066 131,021 -3,862
1972 24,606 -236 126,403 -4,156
1971 23,467 -208 122,567 -4,230
1970 22,414 -244 119,273 1,149
1969 21,387 -57 115,394 2,983
1968 20,470 -636 111,422 4,728
1967 19,498 -339 108,053 4,655
1966 18,635 -1,023 105,128 -1,930
1965 17,902 -1,327 103,422 -9,774
1964 17,134 -1,660 102,562 -19,458
1963 16,430 -2,016 94,296 -25,524
1962 15,656 -2,403 102,548 -25,594
1961 14,936 -2,807 102,051 -20,508
1960 14,307 -3,227 100,627 -13,198

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/namibia/rwanda | 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). In Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/rwanda | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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