Rural population density in Namibia
Namibia: Rural population density was 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
40th
of 53 countries
All-time high
178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2011
All-time low
78.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Namibia, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land for rural population density in 2011. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Namibia peaked at 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011 and was at its lowest, 78.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
That places Namibia 40th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Namibia, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 78.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 80.18 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 81.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 82.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 84.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 86.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 87.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 89.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 91.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 93.3 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 95.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 98.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 100.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 103.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 106.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 107.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 110.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 111.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 113.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 115.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 117.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 120.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 121.6 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 124.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 128.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 132.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 138.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 143.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 149.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 155.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 159.65 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 163.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 158.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 151.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 142.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 145.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 148.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 151.65 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 154.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 157.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 159.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 160.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 162.7 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 164.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 165.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 167.83 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 172.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 174.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 175.83 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 177.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 84.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 78.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 91.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 104.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 93.3 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 113.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 129.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 115.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 149.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 153.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 142.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 163.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 166.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 157.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 175.83 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 178.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 177.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 37 Zimbabwe 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 38 Senegal 190.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 39 Chad 183.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 41 Morocco 174.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 42 Gambia 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 43 South Africa 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate -16.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0095 t per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -16.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0093 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import -22.73 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Namibia?
- Rural population density in Namibia was 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does Namibia rank for rural population density?
- Namibia ranks 40th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.