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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 5.47 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Namibia vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Zimbabwe
2100 5,958,153 37,483,053
2099 5,952,623 37,412,398
2098 5,947,142 37,328,255
2097 5,942,285 37,235,542
2096 5,938,162 37,142,915
2095 5,930,395 37,032,129
2094 5,922,248 36,912,747
2093 5,911,235 36,810,893
2092 5,899,026 36,688,511
2091 5,886,490 36,567,262
2090 5,871,938 36,425,606
2089 5,858,234 36,280,973
2088 5,842,720 36,141,446
2087 5,825,856 35,977,638
2086 5,806,643 35,808,135
2085 5,789,246 35,637,092
2084 5,771,050 35,456,207
2083 5,751,610 35,268,035
2082 5,730,648 35,078,904
2081 5,707,476 34,873,129
2080 5,682,842 34,658,962
2079 5,659,698 34,439,720
2078 5,634,313 34,217,295
2077 5,608,096 33,982,909
2076 5,580,829 33,739,228
2075 5,551,107 33,495,867
2074 5,522,025 33,244,838
2073 5,494,180 32,978,488
2072 5,464,749 32,706,059
2071 5,434,461 32,445,747
2070 5,403,822 32,181,119
2069 5,371,517 31,906,793
2068 5,336,950 31,631,000
2067 5,300,707 31,345,338
2066 5,263,191 31,062,884
2065 5,227,346 30,766,830
2064 5,190,323 30,479,939
2063 5,150,579 30,176,104
2062 5,109,760 29,867,679
2061 5,068,478 29,557,068
2060 5,023,587 29,252,423
2059 4,979,591 28,945,088
2058 4,933,964 28,631,679
2057 4,887,985 28,307,305
2056 4,840,537 27,990,713
2055 4,790,848 27,658,887
2054 4,741,942 27,331,920
2053 4,691,180 26,986,935
2052 4,639,835 26,643,553
2051 4,587,353 26,287,592
2050 4,533,502 25,934,893
2049 4,482,650 25,585,239
2048 4,430,309 25,228,082
2047 4,373,597 24,874,649
2046 4,318,050 24,513,443
2045 4,259,166 24,147,637
2044 4,202,338 23,783,088
2043 4,144,892 23,401,965
2042 4,088,713 23,035,288
2041 4,032,347 22,647,950
2040 3,976,987 22,273,520
2039 3,920,720 21,902,980
2038 3,862,015 21,530,130
2037 3,804,482 21,159,664
2036 3,747,072 20,791,034
2035 3,689,163 20,413,656
2034 3,631,737 20,048,019
2033 3,575,000 19,676,339
2032 3,516,310 19,311,985
2031 3,456,265 18,959,300
2030 3,395,964 18,613,738
2029 3,336,698 18,270,049
2028 3,277,428 17,933,466
2027 3,216,917 17,600,984
2026 3,156,839 17,273,208
2025 3,094,769 16,949,303
2024 3,030,131 16,634,373
2023 2,963,095 16,340,822
2022 2,889,662 16,069,056
2021 2,810,548 15,797,210
2020 2,728,762 15,526,888
2019 2,650,494 15,271,368
2018 2,577,327 15,034,452
2017 2,506,853 14,812,482
2016 2,439,213 14,600,294
2015 2,374,300 14,399,013
2014 2,312,139 14,207,359
2013 2,252,508 14,013,808
2012 2,194,654 13,817,887
2011 2,146,325 13,595,424
2010 2,109,811 13,356,548
2009 2,077,394 13,142,790
2008 2,047,056 12,959,149
2007 2,018,600 12,804,058
2006 1,991,888 12,636,445
2005 1,966,582 12,483,432
2004 1,942,082 12,365,896
2003 1,917,464 12,232,323
2002 1,889,970 12,087,653
2001 1,857,048 11,971,901
2000 1,818,647 11,892,055
1999 1,776,368 11,783,458
1998 1,732,745 11,594,297
1997 1,689,264 11,369,827
1996 1,646,103 11,158,360
1995 1,602,170 10,974,599
1994 1,556,304 10,873,148
1993 1,508,697 10,860,288
1992 1,461,322 10,702,700
1991 1,415,684 10,404,816
1990 1,369,303 10,137,281
1989 1,288,947 9,864,798
1988 1,209,696 9,583,094
1987 1,167,889 9,284,644
1986 1,131,081 8,982,578
1985 1,096,890 8,686,813
1984 1,065,989 8,391,488
1983 1,037,511 8,098,404
1982 1,010,308 7,796,496
1981 992,500 7,498,635
1980 981,434 7,041,303
1979 962,825 6,647,556
1978 947,269 6,543,575
1977 931,104 6,449,512
1976 906,566 6,287,105
1975 881,032 6,098,658
1974 854,320 5,908,328
1973 828,928 5,720,404
1972 804,399 5,542,445
1971 780,584 5,374,712
1970 757,868 5,215,918
1969 736,120 5,058,181
1968 715,542 4,900,440
1967 696,045 4,748,307
1966 677,655 4,601,217
1965 660,558 4,458,462
1964 644,530 4,320,006
1963 629,589 4,185,877
1962 615,759 4,055,959
1961 603,067 3,930,401
1960 591,465 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia Zimbabwe
2100 0.09% 0.19%
2099 0.09% 0.23%
2098 0.08% 0.25%
2097 0.07% 0.25%
2096 0.13% 0.3%
2095 0.14% 0.32%
2094 0.19% 0.28%
2093 0.21% 0.33%
2092 0.21% 0.33%
2091 0.25% 0.39%
2090 0.23% 0.4%
2089 0.27% 0.39%
2088 0.29% 0.46%
2087 0.33% 0.47%
2086 0.3% 0.48%
2085 0.32% 0.51%
2084 0.34% 0.53%
2083 0.37% 0.54%
2082 0.41% 0.59%
2081 0.43% 0.62%
2080 0.41% 0.64%
2079 0.45% 0.65%
2078 0.47% 0.69%
2077 0.49% 0.72%
2076 0.54% 0.73%
2075 0.53% 0.76%
2074 0.51% 0.81%
2073 0.54% 0.83%
2072 0.56% 0.8%
2071 0.57% 0.82%
2070 0.6% 0.86%
2069 0.65% 0.87%
2068 0.68% 0.91%
2067 0.71% 0.91%
2066 0.69% 0.96%
2065 0.71% 0.94%
2064 0.77% 1.01%
2063 0.8% 1.03%
2062 0.81% 1.05%
2061 0.89% 1.04%
2060 0.88% 1.06%
2059 0.92% 1.09%
2058 0.94% 1.15%
2057 0.98% 1.13%
2056 1.04% 1.2%
2055 1.03% 1.2%
2054 1.08% 1.28%
2053 1.11% 1.29%
2052 1.14% 1.35%
2051 1.19% 1.36%
2050 1.13% 1.37%
2049 1.18% 1.42%
2048 1.3% 1.42%
2047 1.29% 1.47%
2046 1.38% 1.51%
2045 1.35% 1.53%
2044 1.39% 1.63%
2043 1.37% 1.59%
2042 1.4% 1.71%
2041 1.39% 1.68%
2040 1.44% 1.69%
2039 1.52% 1.73%
2038 1.51% 1.75%
2037 1.53% 1.77%
2036 1.57% 1.85%
2035 1.58% 1.82%
2034 1.59% 1.89%
2033 1.67% 1.89%
2032 1.74% 1.86%
2031 1.78% 1.86%
2030 1.78% 1.88%
2029 1.81% 1.88%
2028 1.88% 1.89%
2027 1.9% 1.9%
2026 2.01% 1.91%
2025 2.13% 1.89%
2024 2.26% 1.8%
2023 2.54% 1.69%
2022 2.81% 1.72%
2021 3% 1.74%
2020 2.95% 1.67%
2019 2.84% 1.58%
2018 2.81% 1.5%
2017 2.77% 1.45%
2016 2.73% 1.4%
2015 2.69% 1.35%
2014 2.65% 1.38%
2013 2.64% 1.42%
2012 2.25% 1.64%
2011 1.73% 1.79%
2010 1.56% 1.63%
2009 1.48% 1.42%
2008 1.41% 1.21%
2007 1.34% 1.33%
2006 1.29% 1.23%
2005 1.26% 0.95%
2004 1.28% 1.09%
2003 1.45% 1.2%
2002 1.77% 0.97%
2001 2.11% 0.67%
2000 2.38% 0.92%
1999 2.52% 1.63%
1998 2.57% 1.97%
1997 2.62% 1.9%
1996 2.74% 1.67%
1995 2.95% 0.93%
1994 3.16% 0.12%
1993 3.24% 1.47%
1992 3.22% 2.86%
1991 3.39% 2.64%
1990 6.23% 2.76%
1989 6.55% 2.94%
1988 3.58% 3.21%
1987 3.25% 3.36%
1986 3.12% 3.4%
1985 2.9% 3.52%
1984 2.74% 3.62%
1983 2.69% 3.87%
1982 1.79% 3.97%
1981 1.13% 6.49%
1980 1.93% 5.92%
1979 1.64% 1.59%
1978 1.74% 1.46%
1977 2.71% 2.58%
1976 2.9% 3.09%
1975 3.13% 3.22%
1974 3.06% 3.29%
1973 3.05% 3.21%
1972 3.05% 3.12%
1971 3% 3.04%
1970 2.95% 3.12%
1969 2.88% 3.22%
1968 2.8% 3.2%
1967 2.71% 3.2%
1966 2.59% 3.2%
1965 2.49% 3.2%
1964 2.37% 3.2%
1963 2.25% 3.2%
1962 2.1% 3.19%
1961 1.96% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Namibia grew by 2.26%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Namibia Zimbabwe
Current population
3173089
17361868
Population rank 134/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.21%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
6.85 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
28.8 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +184 +804
Annual growth/decline +67,036 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 60/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +1,866 -54,555
Net migration rank 57/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - -54,555
2024 - 4,211 - -60,528
2023 58,435 11,675 372,505 -97,380
2022 54,534 22,212 371,243 -102,828
2021 50,160 31,327 349,908 -74,623
2020 55,034 27,056 354,790 -89,440
2019 54,769 19,676 348,798 -103,107
2018 53,970 17,920 345,883 -117,758
2017 52,975 16,080 344,035 -128,241
2016 52,228 14,002 348,772 -140,181
2015 50,846 12,755 356,203 -162,220
2014 49,581 11,134 366,350 -177,029
2013 47,801 10,748 374,757 -176,972
2012 46,204 10,957 371,135 -177,061
2011 43,557 -4,067 359,572 -108,714
2010 42,046 -8,518 335,570 -108,671
2009 39,942 -8,626 309,316 -108,689
2008 38,147 -8,775 280,527 -113,858
2007 36,430 -8,905 261,805 -118,299
2006 34,690 -8,792 248,963 -57,257
2005 32,909 -8,195 248,545 -134,212
2004 31,478 -7,192 248,307 -127,550
2003 31,115 -6,153 243,057 -96,667
2002 31,947 -1,913 244,170 -101,212
2001 32,942 2,869 227,909 -139,361
2000 35,280 5,709 236,343 -165,181
1999 37,233 6,333 232,393 -86,343
1998 37,500 6,180 225,614 6,645
1997 37,256 6,023 216,288 395
1996 37,177 5,866 205,269 978
1995 39,119 5,712 206,695 -45,428
1994 41,316 5,578 216,343 -174,723
1993 42,861 5,464 228,045 -243,947
1992 43,945 2,487 255,291 75,788
1991 44,523 309 260,943 3,749
1990 43,956 3,969 265,444 4,948
1989 37,715 75,072 270,838 3,736
1988 34,798 10,916 277,498 11,327
1987 33,340 4,559 286,766 21,308
1986 31,764 3,953 289,894 6,154
1985 30,575 2,090 290,756 4,718
1984 29,395 -267 290,052 5,124
1983 28,307 -481 286,545 4,456
1982 27,474 -889 279,934 32,899
1981 27,938 -18,901 271,361 11,523
1980 28,142 -15,041 241,179 390,593
1979 28,930 -4,818 223,657 -67,937
1978 29,821 -22,827 222,979 -170,727
1977 29,241 -3,907 225,139 -89,270
1976 28,785 -5,048 221,419 -32,495
1975 27,882 -553 216,947 -28,988
1974 26,844 -744 208,806 -16,105
1973 25,754 -1,066 201,885 -18,733
1972 24,606 -236 193,725 -20,959
1971 23,467 -208 185,427 -22,719
1970 22,414 -244 178,979 -24,102
1969 21,387 -57 172,626 -12,028
1968 20,470 -636 166,865 -11,997
1967 19,498 -339 161,205 -11,814
1966 18,635 -1,023 156,014 -11,211
1965 17,902 -1,327 151,164 -10,465
1964 17,134 -1,660 145,848 -9,631
1963 16,430 -2,016 140,984 -8,936
1962 15,656 -2,403 136,317 -8,529
1961 14,936 -2,807 131,531 -8,204
1960 14,307 -3,227 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/namibia/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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