Justicia Shipena
Only 19% of Namibians aged 18 to 35 would choose to start their own business if given the opportunity. This makes the country’s youth the least entrepreneurial in Africa.
This is according to the latest Afrobarometer survey covering 38 African nations.
The data stands in sharp contrast to Namibia’s youth population, which makes up 2.1 million of the country’s three million people, according to the 2023 Housing and Population Census by the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Despite their numbers, the survey shows that most young Namibians prefer the government as their employer.
The survey asked the youth about their preferred job sector, and 44% of young people said they would rather work for the government, while only 19% said they would like to start their own business.
Another 18% favour private-sector jobs, while 7% and 8% cite non-government organisations (NGOs) or other options.
This comes as 11 475 applications from youth-run businesses seeking funding from the National Youth Development Fund were received by the government.
The fund aims to promote entrepreneurship and tackle youth unemployment.
Across the continent, an average of 52% of young people say they want to start their own businesses, with countries such as Senegal at 74%, The Gambia at 69%, Benin at 68%, and Tanzania at 66% leading the way.
Closer to home, Botswana stands at 52%, Eswatini at 50%, and Zimbabwe at 49%.
Namibia’s youth trail just behind South Africa, where 23% of young respondents expressed a desire to pursue entrepreneurship.
Cirrus Capital economist Tannan Groenewald said the strong preference for government employment has serious implications for growth and long-term job creation.
He said that in a context of persistently high unemployment, many Namibians view government work as the only stable route to income security.
He asserts that people often perceive the private sector as risky, undercapitalised, and restricted by regulations.
“The private sector, by contrast, is often viewed as risky, undercapitalised, and constrained by regulation,” Groenewald said.
The Namibia Statistics Agency data shows that unemployment reached a concerning level, with about 321 000 people actively seeking jobs in 2023.
Groenewald added that in an economy where establishing and sustaining a business is structurally difficult, it is unsurprising that entrepreneurship is a relatively unattractive path.
He said the public sector offers job security, predictable pay, and limited performance pressure, a combination that makes government work not only safer but, for many, the only realistic option.
Namibia ranked 68th out of 69 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025.
The report stated that government policies remain unconducive to investment and competitiveness.
Similarly, the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index places Namibia among the most difficult countries to start a business in.
Economist Josef Sheehama said in September that the barriers to youth entrepreneurship are structural and deeply rooted in education and policy.
“Those with school-leaving certificates and degrees are still unemployed. This indicates that entering the workforce at a younger age is becoming more difficult and that our economy cannot absorb the number of graduates produced by our higher education institutions,” he said.
SMEs make up around 30%, or about 70 000, of Namibia’s 230 000 registered businesses. Sheehama said youth entrepreneurship could contribute significantly to job creation, innovation and poverty reduction.
Caption
A new Afrobarometer survey reveals that only 19% of young Namibians aspire to start their own business.
- Source: Afrobarometer 2025
