Life expectancy in Namibia
Namibia: Life expectancy was 60.36 Years in 2021. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy in Namibia, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy in Namibia is 60.36 Years, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 5.3% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy in Namibia peaked at 63.75 Years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 51.39 Years, in 2003.
Namibia ranks 174th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Life expectancy in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 53.02 Years | — |
| 2001 | 52.37 Years | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 51.74 Years | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 51.39 Years | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 51.65 Years | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 52.83 Years | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 54.7 Years | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 56.84 Years | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 58.62 Years | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 59.5 Years | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 60.12 Years | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 60.88 Years | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 61.49 Years | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 61.88 Years | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 61.95 Years | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 61.86 Years | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 62.06 Years | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 62.37 Years | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 62.83 Years | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 63.49 Years | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 63.75 Years | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 60.36 Years | -5.3% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 60.36 Years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 66.81 Years, 90% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 60.36 Years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.05 Years, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.27 Years | 51.39 Years | 59.5 Years | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.89 Years | 60.12 Years | 63.49 Years | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.06 Years | 60.36 Years | 63.75 Years | 2 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More health data for Namibia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,046 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 561 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy in Namibia?
- Life expectancy in Namibia was 60.36 Years in 2021, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life expectancy recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 63.75 Years in 2020.
- What is the lowest life expectancy recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.39 Years in 2003.
- How does Namibia rank for life expectancy?
- Namibia ranks 174th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is life expectancy rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The period life expectancy at birth, in a given year.