To develop the efficient numerical optimization method for the design of an airfoil, an evaluation of various methods coupled with two-dimensional Naviev-Stokes analysis is presented. Simplex method and Hook-Jeeves method we used as direct search methods, and steepest descent method, conjugate gradient method and DFP method are used as indirect search methods and are tested to determine the search direction. To determine the moving distance, the golden section method and cubic interpolation method are tested. The finite volume method is used to discretize two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, and SIMPLEC algorithm is used for a velocity-pressure correction method. For the optimal design of two-dimensional airfoil, maximum thickness, maximum ordinate of camber line and chordwise position of maximum ordinate are chosen as design variables, and the ratio of drag coefficient to lift coefficient is selected as an objective function. From the results, it is found that conjugate gradient method and cubic interpolation method are the most efficient for the determination of search direction and the moving distance, respectively.