Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Namibia
Namibia: Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) was 1.7% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Armed forces personnel in Namibia, 1991–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel in Namibia stood at 1.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Namibia peaked at 2.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1997.
Namibia ranks 38th of 171 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.8% | — |
| 1992 | 1.7% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 1.6% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | -29.3% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | +49.6% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 1.6% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | +59.9% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | +2.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 1.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.6%, 2.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 1.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.4%, 4.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Namibia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +59.9% | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| 1998 | +49.6% | 1.1% | 1.7% |
| 1997 | -29.3% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More public sector data for Namibia
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 0 SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 17.82 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.004 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -77.78 % change on previous year (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Namibia?
- Armed forces personnel in Namibia was 1.7% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1997.
- How does Namibia rank for armed forces personnel?
- Namibia ranks 38th out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as part of Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.