Rural population in Namibia
Namibia: Rural population was 49.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Namibia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Namibia is 49.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Namibia peaked at 76.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 49.1%, in 2025.
That places Namibia 63rd out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 76.6% | — |
| 1961 | 76.4% | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 76.2% | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 76.0% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 75.8% | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 75.6% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 75.5% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 75.4% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 75.3% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 75.1% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 75.1% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 75.0% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 74.9% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 74.8% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 74.8% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 74.7% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 74.6% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 74.6% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 74.5% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 74.3% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 74.2% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 74.1% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 74.0% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 73.9% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 73.8% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 73.6% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 73.5% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 73.3% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 73.1% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 72.9% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 72.7% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 72.3% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 71.9% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 71.3% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 70.7% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 70.1% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 69.4% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 68.6% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 67.9% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 67.1% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 66.4% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 63.4% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 62.3% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 61.2% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 60.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 59.1% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 58.2% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 57.4% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 56.6% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 55.9% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 55.2% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 54.5% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 53.8% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 53.2% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 52.6% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 52.0% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 51.5% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 50.9% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 50.5% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 50.0% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 49.6% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 49.1% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 75.8% | 75.1% | 76.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 74.7% | 74.4% | 75.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 73.9% | 73.3% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.3% | 68.6% | 73.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.8% | 59.1% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.9% | 52.0% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.3% | 49.1% | 51.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 60 Guinea-Bissau 53.3% compare
- 61 Turkmenistan 52.9% compare
- 62 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 52.0% compare
- 64 Kosovo 49.1% compare
- 64 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 49.1% compare
- 66 Uzbekistan 49.0% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Namibia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0699 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 340.78 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4913 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 6.99 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 6.99 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Namibia?
- Rural population in Namibia was 49.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 76.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.1% in 2025.
- How does Namibia rank for rural population?
- Namibia ranks 63rd out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.