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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 2.87 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Namibia vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Switzerland
2100 5,958,153 9,234,296
2099 5,952,623 9,226,472
2098 5,947,142 9,220,109
2097 5,942,285 9,212,728
2096 5,938,162 9,208,997
2095 5,930,395 9,203,477
2094 5,922,248 9,199,095
2093 5,911,235 9,196,672
2092 5,899,026 9,194,082
2091 5,886,490 9,191,145
2090 5,871,938 9,189,122
2089 5,858,234 9,188,754
2088 5,842,720 9,190,102
2087 5,825,856 9,189,763
2086 5,806,643 9,191,494
2085 5,789,246 9,195,728
2084 5,771,050 9,199,983
2083 5,751,610 9,204,908
2082 5,730,648 9,210,695
2081 5,707,476 9,217,065
2080 5,682,842 9,223,475
2079 5,659,698 9,230,920
2078 5,634,313 9,237,649
2077 5,608,096 9,245,300
2076 5,580,829 9,250,248
2075 5,551,107 9,255,753
2074 5,522,025 9,266,455
2073 5,494,180 9,275,439
2072 5,464,749 9,283,185
2071 5,434,461 9,292,913
2070 5,403,822 9,303,843
2069 5,371,517 9,311,935
2068 5,336,950 9,320,335
2067 5,300,707 9,327,741
2066 5,263,191 9,339,455
2065 5,227,346 9,351,481
2064 5,190,323 9,362,413
2063 5,150,579 9,372,441
2062 5,109,760 9,383,258
2061 5,068,478 9,395,036
2060 5,023,587 9,403,920
2059 4,979,591 9,414,241
2058 4,933,964 9,422,560
2057 4,887,985 9,428,212
2056 4,840,537 9,435,441
2055 4,790,848 9,443,890
2054 4,741,942 9,451,268
2053 4,691,180 9,456,389
2052 4,639,835 9,456,418
2051 4,587,353 9,456,395
2050 4,533,502 9,454,544
2049 4,482,650 9,451,083
2048 4,430,309 9,444,091
2047 4,373,597 9,437,061
2046 4,318,050 9,430,954
2045 4,259,166 9,425,155
2044 4,202,338 9,418,152
2043 4,144,892 9,410,763
2042 4,088,713 9,400,808
2041 4,032,347 9,393,857
2040 3,976,987 9,382,662
2039 3,920,720 9,373,984
2038 3,862,015 9,365,030
2037 3,804,482 9,354,254
2036 3,747,072 9,342,450
2035 3,689,163 9,328,907
2034 3,631,737 9,312,054
2033 3,575,000 9,294,881
2032 3,516,310 9,276,221
2031 3,456,265 9,253,034
2030 3,395,964 9,228,188
2029 3,336,698 9,201,743
2028 3,277,428 9,170,620
2027 3,216,917 9,135,740
2026 3,156,839 9,097,532
2025 3,094,769 9,053,983
2024 3,030,131 9,005,582
2023 2,963,095 8,888,822
2022 2,889,662 8,777,088
2021 2,810,548 8,704,546
2020 2,728,762 8,638,167
2019 2,650,494 8,575,280
2018 2,577,327 8,514,329
2017 2,506,853 8,451,840
2016 2,439,213 8,373,338
2015 2,374,300 8,282,396
2014 2,312,139 8,188,649
2013 2,252,508 8,089,346
2012 2,194,654 7,996,861
2011 2,146,325 7,912,398
2010 2,109,811 7,824,909
2009 2,077,394 7,743,831
2008 2,047,056 7,647,675
2007 2,018,600 7,551,117
2006 1,991,888 7,483,934
2005 1,966,582 7,437,115
2004 1,942,082 7,389,625
2003 1,917,464 7,339,001
2002 1,889,970 7,284,753
2001 1,857,048 7,229,854
2000 1,818,647 7,184,250
1999 1,776,368 7,143,991
1998 1,732,745 7,110,001
1997 1,689,264 7,088,906
1996 1,646,103 7,071,850
1995 1,602,170 7,040,687
1994 1,556,304 6,993,795
1993 1,508,697 6,938,265
1992 1,461,322 6,875,364
1991 1,415,684 6,799,978
1990 1,369,303 6,715,519
1989 1,288,947 6,646,912
1988 1,209,696 6,593,386
1987 1,167,889 6,545,106
1986 1,131,081 6,504,124
1985 1,096,890 6,470,365
1984 1,065,989 6,441,865
1983 1,037,511 6,418,773
1982 1,010,308 6,391,309
1981 992,500 6,354,074
1980 981,434 6,319,408
1979 962,825 6,294,365
1978 947,269 6,281,738
1977 931,104 6,281,174
1976 906,566 6,302,504
1975 881,032 6,338,632
1974 854,320 6,341,405
1973 828,928 6,307,347
1972 804,399 6,260,956
1971 780,584 6,213,399
1970 757,868 6,180,877
1969 736,120 6,136,387
1968 715,542 6,067,714
1967 696,045 5,991,785
1966 677,655 5,918,002
1965 660,558 5,856,472
1964 644,530 5,789,228
1963 629,589 5,694,247
1962 615,759 5,573,815
1961 603,067 5,434,294
1960 591,465 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia Switzerland
2100 0.09% 0.08%
2099 0.09% 0.07%
2098 0.08% 0.08%
2097 0.07% 0.04%
2096 0.13% 0.06%
2095 0.14% 0.05%
2094 0.19% 0.03%
2093 0.21% 0.03%
2092 0.21% 0.03%
2091 0.25% 0.02%
2090 0.23% 0.004%
2089 0.27% -0.01%
2088 0.29% 0.004%
2087 0.33% -0.02%
2086 0.3% -0.05%
2085 0.32% -0.05%
2084 0.34% -0.05%
2083 0.37% -0.06%
2082 0.41% -0.07%
2081 0.43% -0.07%
2080 0.41% -0.08%
2079 0.45% -0.07%
2078 0.47% -0.08%
2077 0.49% -0.05%
2076 0.54% -0.06%
2075 0.53% -0.12%
2074 0.51% -0.1%
2073 0.54% -0.08%
2072 0.56% -0.1%
2071 0.57% -0.12%
2070 0.6% -0.09%
2069 0.65% -0.09%
2068 0.68% -0.08%
2067 0.71% -0.13%
2066 0.69% -0.13%
2065 0.71% -0.12%
2064 0.77% -0.11%
2063 0.8% -0.12%
2062 0.81% -0.13%
2061 0.89% -0.09%
2060 0.88% -0.11%
2059 0.92% -0.09%
2058 0.94% -0.06%
2057 0.98% -0.08%
2056 1.04% -0.09%
2055 1.03% -0.08%
2054 1.08% -0.05%
2053 1.11% -0%
2052 1.14% 0%
2051 1.19% 0.02%
2050 1.13% 0.04%
2049 1.18% 0.07%
2048 1.3% 0.07%
2047 1.29% 0.06%
2046 1.38% 0.06%
2045 1.35% 0.07%
2044 1.39% 0.08%
2043 1.37% 0.11%
2042 1.4% 0.07%
2041 1.39% 0.12%
2040 1.44% 0.09%
2039 1.52% 0.1%
2038 1.51% 0.12%
2037 1.53% 0.13%
2036 1.57% 0.15%
2035 1.58% 0.18%
2034 1.59% 0.18%
2033 1.67% 0.2%
2032 1.74% 0.25%
2031 1.78% 0.27%
2030 1.78% 0.29%
2029 1.81% 0.34%
2028 1.88% 0.38%
2027 1.9% 0.42%
2026 2.01% 0.48%
2025 2.13% 0.54%
2024 2.26% 1.31%
2023 2.54% 1.27%
2022 2.81% 0.83%
2021 3% 0.77%
2020 2.95% 0.73%
2019 2.84% 0.72%
2018 2.81% 0.74%
2017 2.77% 0.94%
2016 2.73% 1.1%
2015 2.69% 1.14%
2014 2.65% 1.23%
2013 2.64% 1.16%
2012 2.25% 1.07%
2011 1.73% 1.12%
2010 1.56% 1.05%
2009 1.48% 1.26%
2008 1.41% 1.28%
2007 1.34% 0.9%
2006 1.29% 0.63%
2005 1.26% 0.64%
2004 1.28% 0.69%
2003 1.45% 0.74%
2002 1.77% 0.76%
2001 2.11% 0.63%
2000 2.38% 0.56%
1999 2.52% 0.48%
1998 2.57% 0.3%
1997 2.62% 0.24%
1996 2.74% 0.44%
1995 2.95% 0.67%
1994 3.16% 0.8%
1993 3.24% 0.91%
1992 3.22% 1.11%
1991 3.39% 1.26%
1990 6.23% 1.03%
1989 6.55% 0.81%
1988 3.58% 0.74%
1987 3.25% 0.63%
1986 3.12% 0.52%
1985 2.9% 0.44%
1984 2.74% 0.36%
1983 2.69% 0.43%
1982 1.79% 0.59%
1981 1.13% 0.55%
1980 1.93% 0.4%
1979 1.64% 0.2%
1978 1.74% 0.009%
1977 2.71% -0.34%
1976 2.9% -0.57%
1975 3.13% -0.04%
1974 3.06% 0.54%
1973 3.05% 0.74%
1972 3.05% 0.77%
1971 3% 0.53%
1970 2.95% 0.73%
1969 2.88% 1.13%
1968 2.8% 1.27%
1967 2.71% 1.25%
1966 2.59% 1.05%
1965 2.49% 1.16%
1964 2.37% 1.67%
1963 2.25% 2.16%
1962 2.1% 2.57%
1961 1.96% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Namibia grew by 2.26%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Namibia Switzerland
Current population
3173089
9107866
Population rank 134/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.11%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
6.85 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
28.8 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +184 +320
Annual growth/decline +67,036 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 81/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +1,866 +37,253
Net migration rank 57/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - 37,253
2024 - 4,211 - 40,099
2023 58,435 11,675 8,000 45,098
2022 54,534 22,212 7,899 96,424
2021 50,160 31,327 18,279 50,665
2020 55,034 27,056 9,502 55,523
2019 54,769 19,676 18,008 44,517
2018 53,970 17,920 20,434 41,253
2017 52,975 16,080 20,284 45,658
2016 52,228 14,002 22,608 71,009
2015 50,846 12,755 19,050 71,876
2014 49,581 11,134 21,290 78,122
2013 47,801 10,748 17,797 83,823
2012 46,204 10,957 18,393 67,840
2011 43,557 -4,067 18,990 67,194
2010 42,046 -8,518 17,997 76,388
2009 39,942 -8,626 15,487 69,324
2008 38,147 -8,775 15,295 94,430
2007 36,430 -8,905 13,592 72,475
2006 34,690 -8,792 12,723 37,308
2005 32,909 -8,195 11,899 33,203
2004 31,478 -7,192 13,302 39,484
2003 31,115 -6,153 8,807 42,567
2002 31,947 -1,913 10,199 49,650
2001 32,942 2,869 10,845 35,420
2000 35,280 5,709 15,806 24,463
1999 37,233 6,333 16,431 25,599
1998 37,500 6,180 16,353 11,325
1997 37,256 6,023 17,722 -1,939
1996 37,177 5,866 19,801 -131
1995 39,119 5,712 19,010 25,343
1994 41,316 5,578 20,982 30,274
1993 42,861 5,464 21,509 40,267
1992 43,945 2,487 24,064 42,014
1991 44,523 309 23,800 69,738
1990 43,956 3,969 20,146 58,428
1989 37,715 75,072 19,941 34,432
1988 34,798 10,916 21,099 34,602
1987 33,340 4,559 15,708 27,081
1986 31,764 3,953 16,261 23,242
1985 30,575 2,090 14,882 14,402
1984 29,395 -267 16,105 12,532
1983 28,307 -481 12,837 5,663
1982 27,474 -889 15,339 21,929
1981 27,938 -18,901 13,979 24,229
1980 28,142 -15,041 14,535 17,841
1979 28,930 -4,818 14,477 4,262
1978 29,821 -22,827 13,820 -6,552
1977 29,241 -3,907 16,959 -22,516
1976 28,785 -5,048 17,017 -54,255
1975 27,882 -553 22,820 -58,187
1974 26,844 -744 27,902 2,008
1973 25,754 -1,066 30,906 8,158
1972 24,606 -236 35,061 19,991
1971 23,467 -208 38,523 2,636
1970 22,414 -244 42,648 -18,326
1969 21,387 -57 44,182 20,754
1968 20,470 -636 47,328 25,828
1967 19,498 -339 52,128 27,697
1966 18,635 -1,023 53,854 14,979
1965 17,902 -1,327 56,222 -1,351
1964 17,134 -1,660 59,050 21,455
1963 16,430 -2,016 52,956 58,415
1962 15,656 -2,403 49,050 82,798
1961 14,936 -2,807 48,365 101,278
1960 14,307 -3,227 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/namibia/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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