Net migration in Namibia
Namibia: Net migration was 1,866 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Namibia, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Namibia stood at 1,866.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 55.7% on the previous year and down 85.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Namibia peaked at 75,072 in 1989 and was at its lowest, -22,827, in 1978.
Namibia ranks 58th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -3,227 | — |
| 1961 | -2,807 | -13.0% |
| 1962 | -2,403 | -14.4% |
| 1963 | -2,016 | -16.1% |
| 1964 | -1,660 | -17.7% |
| 1965 | -1,327 | -20.1% |
| 1966 | -1,023 | -22.9% |
| 1967 | -339 | -66.9% |
| 1968 | -636 | +87.6% |
| 1969 | -57 | -91.0% |
| 1970 | -244 | +328.1% |
| 1971 | -208 | -14.8% |
| 1972 | -236 | +13.5% |
| 1973 | -1,066 | +351.7% |
| 1974 | -744 | -30.2% |
| 1975 | -553 | -25.7% |
| 1976 | -5,048 | +812.8% |
| 1977 | -3,907 | -22.6% |
| 1978 | -22,827 | +484.3% |
| 1979 | -4,818 | -78.9% |
| 1980 | -15,041 | +212.2% |
| 1981 | -18,901 | +25.7% |
| 1982 | -889 | -95.3% |
| 1983 | -481 | -45.9% |
| 1984 | -267 | -44.5% |
| 1985 | 2,090 | -882.8% |
| 1986 | 3,953 | +89.1% |
| 1987 | 4,559 | +15.3% |
| 1988 | 10,916 | +139.4% |
| 1989 | 75,072 | +587.7% |
| 1990 | 3,969 | -94.7% |
| 1991 | 309 | -92.2% |
| 1992 | 2,487 | +704.9% |
| 1993 | 5,464 | +119.7% |
| 1994 | 5,578 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 5,712 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 5,866 | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 6,023 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 6,180 | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 6,333 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 5,709 | -9.9% |
| 2001 | 2,869 | -49.7% |
| 2002 | -1,913 | -166.7% |
| 2003 | -6,153 | +221.6% |
| 2004 | -7,192 | +16.9% |
| 2005 | -8,195 | +13.9% |
| 2006 | -8,792 | +7.3% |
| 2007 | -8,905 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | -8,775 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | -8,626 | -1.7% |
| 2010 | -8,518 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | -4,067 | -52.3% |
| 2012 | 10,957 | -369.4% |
| 2013 | 10,748 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 11,134 | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 12,755 | +14.6% |
| 2016 | 14,002 | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 16,080 | +14.8% |
| 2018 | 17,920 | +11.4% |
| 2019 | 19,676 | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 27,056 | +37.5% |
| 2021 | 31,327 | +15.8% |
| 2022 | 22,212 | -29.1% |
| 2023 | 11,675 | -47.4% |
| 2024 | 4,211 | -63.9% |
| 2025 | 1,866 | -55.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 1,866 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 1,866 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +882.8% | -267 | 2,090 |
| 1976 | -812.8% | -553 | -5,048 |
| 1992 | +704.9% | 309 | 2,487 |
| 1989 | +587.7% | 10,916 | 75,072 |
| 1978 | -484.3% | -3,907 | -22,827 |
| 2012 | +369.4% | -4,067 | 10,957 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1,550 | -3,227 | -57 | 10 |
| 1970s | -3,965 | -22,827 | -208 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,101 | -18,901 | 75,072 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,792 | 309 | 6,333 | 10 |
| 2000s | -4,997 | -8,905 | 5,709 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,069 | -8,518 | 19,676 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,391 | 1,866 | 31,327 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 55 Argentina 2,859 compare
- 56 Slovenia 2,711 compare
- 57 Iceland 2,709 compare
- 59 Kyrgyzstan 1,815 compare
- 60 Solomon Islands 1,631 compare
- 61 Seychelles 1,590 compare
More financial sector data for Namibia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0484 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Namibia?
- Net migration in Namibia was 1,866 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 75,072 in 1989.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -22,827 in 1978.
- How does Namibia rank for net migration?
- Namibia ranks 58th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.