Namibia vs Zambia
Namibia vs Zambia: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 67.4 years in Namibia and 66.4 years in Zambia, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Namibia, by 1 years, or 1.02 times that in Zambia.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Namibia has been higher since 2023, when it overtook Zambia.
- In 2023, Namibia ranked 181 and Zambia ranked 192 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Namibia at 77.3 years and Zambia at 77.3 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Namibia | Zambia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 67.4 | 66.4 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 64.2 | 65.3 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 60.9 | 62.4 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 64.1 | 63.4 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 63.6 | 62.9 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 62.6 | 62.1 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 61.7 | 61.6 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 60.8 | 61.1 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 60 | 60.7 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 59.3 | 60.1 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 58.5 | 59.5 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 57.7 | 58.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 56.7 | 57.8 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 56.1 | 56.9 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 55.4 | 55.9 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 54.7 | 54.8 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 54 | 53.7 | 69 |
| 2006 | 53.2 | 52.7 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 52.6 | 51.6 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 52.2 | 50.5 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 51.9 | 49.6 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 52 | 48.5 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 52 | 47.4 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 53 | 46.6 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 54 | 45.9 | 66 |
| 1998 | 54.8 | 45.7 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 55.8 | 45.7 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 56.6 | 45.8 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 57.5 | 46.1 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 58.4 | 46.3 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 59.3 | 46.7 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 60.2 | 47 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 60.8 | 47.4 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 61.4 | 48.2 | 64 |
| 1989 | 60.8 | 48.9 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 59 | 49.7 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 59.1 | 50.4 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 58.7 | 51.2 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 58.5 | 52 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 58.1 | 52.9 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 57.6 | 53.7 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 57.3 | 54.4 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 56.9 | 55 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 56.6 | 55.5 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 56.1 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59.1 | 56.3 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.6 | 56.3 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 56.1 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 55.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 56.9 | 55.4 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.4 | 54.9 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 55.9 | 54.4 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 55.3 | 53.9 | 56 |
| 1970 | 54.7 | 53.4 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 54.1 | 53 | 56 |
| 1968 | 53.6 | 52.7 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 52.9 | 52.5 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 52.3 | 52.3 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 52 | 52.1 | 54 |
| 1964 | 51.4 | 51.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 50.6 | 51.6 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 50 | 51.3 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 49.2 | 51 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 48.5 | 50.7 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 47.8 | 50.3 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 47.1 | 49.9 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 46.4 | 49.5 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 45.7 | 49.1 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 45.1 | 48.8 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 44.4 | 48.4 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 43.8 | 48 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 43.2 | 47.6 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 42.5 | 47.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 42 | 46.8 | 46.4 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Namibia | Zambia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 67.566.2–68.9 | 66.565.2–67.9 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 67.765.8–69.7 | 66.764.8–68.8 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 67.865.5–70.2 | 66.964.5–69.3 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 6865.3–70.7 | 67.164.3–69.8 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 68.165.1–71.2 | 67.264.1–70.3 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 68.264.7–71.6 | 67.464.1–70.7 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 68.464.7–72 | 67.563.7–71.2 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 68.564.6–72.2 | 67.763.7–71.5 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 68.664.3–72.6 | 67.963.6–71.7 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 68.864.3–72.9 | 6863.6–72.2 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 68.964.1–73.2 | 68.263.4–72.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 6964.1–73.7 | 68.363.5–72.8 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 69.164.1–74 | 68.563.3–73.2 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 69.364.1–74.2 | 68.663.1–73.7 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 69.464.1–74.4 | 68.863.1–74 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 69.564.1–74.6 | 68.963.1–74.1 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 69.663.9–74.8 | 69.163–74.5 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 69.863.8–75 | 69.263.1–74.8 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.963.8–75.5 | 69.463–75 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 7063.8–75.5 | 69.563–75.6 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 70.163.8–75.9 | 69.663–75.7 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 70.263.9–76.1 | 69.863–76 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 70.463.9–76.6 | 69.963–76.2 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 70.563.8–77 | 70.162.9–76.5 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.663.7–77.2 | 70.263–76.8 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.763.6–77.4 | 70.463.1–77.1 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.963.7–77.7 | 70.562.9–77.4 | 77 |
| 2051 | 7163.8–77.7 | 70.662.9–77.8 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 71.163.5–77.9 | 70.863–77.8 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 71.263.7–78.1 | 70.962.8–78.2 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 71.463.8–78.3 | 71.162.8–78.5 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 71.563.7–78.5 | 71.262.7–78.7 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.663.8–78.8 | 71.362.7–78.9 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.763.9–79.1 | 71.562.8–79.1 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.863.7–79.4 | 71.663–79.5 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 7263.9–79.5 | 71.863.3–79.6 | 78 |
| 2060 | 72.164–79.8 | 71.963–79.9 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 7263.2–80.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 72.463.8–80.2 | 72.263.3–80.3 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.564–80.7 | 72.363.3–80.5 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.663.9–80.6 | 72.463–80.6 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.864.1–80.9 | 72.662.7–80.8 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.963.9–81.3 | 72.763.2–81.1 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 7364–81.4 | 72.863.2–81.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 73.164–81.6 | 7363.4–81.5 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 73.364–81.8 | 73.163.3–81.6 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.464.3–82.1 | 73.363.3–81.8 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.564.2–82.2 | 73.463.3–82 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.764.2–82.5 | 73.563.3–82.3 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.864.1–82.6 | 73.763.3–82.5 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.964.1–82.6 | 73.863.2–82.4 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 74.163.9–82.9 | 73.963.2–82.8 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 74.263.9–83 | 74.163.1–83 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.363.7–83.1 | 74.263.3–83.2 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.563.6–83.5 | 74.363.3–83.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.664.2–83.7 | 74.563.4–83.9 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.764–83.9 | 74.663.4–84.2 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.863.9–83.9 | 74.763.2–84.2 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 7563.7–84.1 | 74.963.2–84.2 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 75.164.1–84.3 | 7563.1–84.3 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.264.1–84.5 | 75.263.3–84.7 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.464–84.6 | 75.363.5–84.9 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.564.1–84.8 | 75.463.6–85 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.664.4–85 | 75.663.4–85.3 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.864.5–84.9 | 75.763–85.4 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.964.4–85.2 | 75.963–85.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 7664.5–85.5 | 7662.9–85.8 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.164.6–85.7 | 76.162.8–85.7 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.364.6–85.8 | 76.363.3–86 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.464.7–85.7 | 76.463.4–86.2 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.564.7–85.9 | 76.563.5–86.3 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.764.6–85.9 | 76.763.5–86.2 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.864.7–86 | 76.863.4–86.6 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.964.7–86.1 | 76.963.7–86.8 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.164.4–86.1 | 77.164–87.1 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.264.4–86.4 | 77.264.1–87.4 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.364.5–86.5 | 77.364.1–87.6 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Namibia vs Zambia
Health
- Child mortalityNamibia: 4 per 100 live births in 2024Zambia: 4.8 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNamibia: 27.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023Zambia: 38.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionNamibia: 3.46% in 2017Zambia: 3.64% in 2017
- Suicide rateNamibia: 11.8 per 100,000 people in 2017Zambia: 13.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNamibia: 2.96 million people in 2023Zambia: 20.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthNamibia: 2.37% a year in 2023Zambia: 2.83% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNamibia: 3.21 births per woman in 2023Zambia: 4.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNamibia: 50.9% in 2025Zambia: 45.9% in 2025
- Median ageNamibia: 21 years in 2023Zambia: 17.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overNamibia: 3.6% in 2023Zambia: 1.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateNamibia: 3.9 per 1,000 people in 2023Zambia: 0.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingNamibia: 2.77% of GDP in 2025Zambia: 1.26% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsNamibia: $386M in 2025Zambia: $343M in 2025
- Military spending per personNamibia: $134 in 2025Zambia: $19 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingNamibia: 7% of government spending in 2025Zambia: 4.5% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNamibia: 16,000 people in 2020Zambia: 16,000 people in 2020
- National powerNamibia: 0.02% of world capability in 2022Zambia: 0.1% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNamibia: 1.67% of the labour force in 2020Zambia: 0.24% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNamibia: 0 TIV in 2025Zambia: 1 million TIV in 2024