Gambia
+54%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2018)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Namibia
Updated Data years: 2018 How we use data
Older data (2018) The latest official figure is from 2018. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Namibia, employees with tertiary education earned a median of NAD 17,000 a month in 2018 (PPP$ 2,369) — +507% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 10.4%, against 16.6% for all adults aged 25 and over (2018).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +507%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2018)
- NAD 17,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2018)
- 10.4%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 16.6%, 2018)
- 46.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2018)
Do graduates earn more in Namibia?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | NAD 1,000 | 139 | -64% |
| Basic education | NAD 1,394 | 194 | -50% |
| Intermediate education | NAD 2,800 | 390 | 0% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | NAD 17,000 | 2,369 | +507% |
| All levels | NAD 2,800 | 390 | — |
The degree premium ranks 4 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Namibia?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 11.5% | 14.1% |
| Basic education | 14.2% | 34.7% |
| Intermediate education | 20.0% | 42.2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 10.4% | 46.3% |
| All levels | 16.6% | 38.0% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 117 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Studying and working in Namibia
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 3.1M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $11,986 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 26.1% (2022)
Questions about graduate jobs in Namibia
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Namibia?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Namibia with tertiary education earned a median of NAD 17,000 a month in 2018, compared with NAD 2,800 for all employees — +507%. The degree premium ranks 4 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Namibia?
In 2018, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Namibia was 10.4%, compared with 16.6% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 46.3%.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Botswana
+300%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Lesotho
+186%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Guinea-Bissau
+117%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Equatorial Guinea
+77%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Liberia
+77%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2017)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2018
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2018
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Namibia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/namibia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)