Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
4 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
104,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available
Communications: Internet country code
.na
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
64.87% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
81,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
85 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2.58 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
root vegetables, milk, maize, beef, grapes, onions, wheat, fruits, pulses, vegetables (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$4.779 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$4.415 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$992.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.173 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.559 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.769 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$570.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$485.9 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$221.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$421.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.333 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.605 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$2.055 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
18.3287 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
9.7501 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
10.8429 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
12.8819 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
14.7088 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
13.3129 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
13.2339 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
14.4487 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
16.4633 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
14.7787 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
16.3559 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
18.4463 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
18.3287 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$5.703 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$4.852 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$4.009 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$3.754 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$4.335 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$4.909 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$4.565 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$3.564 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$3.963 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$5.361 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$5.729 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$5.887 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
41.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
21.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
79.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-68% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
23.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
7.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
28.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
54.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$11,687 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.372 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$35.412 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
59.1 (2015 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
47.2% (2015 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1% (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$6.835 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$7.013 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$6.321 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$6.138 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$6.271 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$5.832 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$4.577 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$6.398 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$7.43 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$8.443 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$9.199 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.39% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
6.73% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
6.15% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
4.29% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.72% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.21% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.62% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.08% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.88% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.24% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.131 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
17.40% (2015 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
2.57% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
4.64% of GDP (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$23.966 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$24.849 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$24.880 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$24.788 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$25.470 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$25.525 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$27.288 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$28.761 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$30.039 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$31.154 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.26% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
0.03% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-1.03% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.06% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-0.84% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.10% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.60% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.40% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.44% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.71% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$10,365 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$10,466 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$10,200 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$9,888 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$9,609 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$9,354 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$9,709 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$10,663 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$11,251 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$64.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$80.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$46.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$60.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$63.0 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$1.688 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$1.834 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$2.432 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$2.150 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$2.049 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$2.171 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.764 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.803 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$2.956 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.356 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
33% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
19.93% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
21.00% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
20.93% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
19.61% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
19.15% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
19.16% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
38% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
36.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
37.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
900 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
26,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
350 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
33.2%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
56.2% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
74.8%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
169 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
646,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
747.409 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
3.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
3.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Environment: Environmental issues
depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity; wildlife poaching
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
47.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
9.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
43.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
193.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
2.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
13.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
11.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
201 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
18.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
61.568 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
50.41% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
256,700 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
19.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Geography: Area: land
823,290 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,002 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,572 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,141 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
Geography: Irrigated land
80 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,220 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
47.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
9.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
43.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Orange (941,351 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
prolonged periods of drought
Geography: Population distribution
population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Government: Administrative divisions
14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is an Afrikaans word meaning "windy corner;" a local Khoikhoin chief first used the name in the 19th century and may have derived it from the name of his childhood South African village of Winterhoek
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
22 34 S, 17 05 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
passage requires majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed
Government: Constitution: history
adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Namibia
Government: Country name: etymology
named for the coastal Namib Desert; the word namib comes from the local Nama language and means "an area where there is nothing"
Government: Country name: former
German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa
Government: Country name: local long form
Republic of Namibia
Government: Country name: local short form
Namibia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsularWindhoek@state.gov https://na.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[264] (61) 202-5219
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[264] (61) 202-5000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 986-0443
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 986-0540
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (SWAPO) 57%, Panduleni ITULA (IPC) 26%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.10%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 4.72%, Job AMUPANDA (AR) 1.80%, Hendrik GAOBEAB (UDF) 1.16%; other 3.31% 2019: Hage GEINGOB reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, other .9%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
November 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
27 November 2024
Government: Flag
description: a wide red stripe edged with narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower-left corner to upper-right corner; the upper triangle is blue and has a golden-yellow, 12-ray sunburst, and the lower triangle is green meaning: red stands for the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue stands for the sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the sun for power and existence, and green for vegetation and agricultural resources
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the president of Namibia on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
November 2029
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
SWAPO Party (51); Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) (20); Affirmative Repositioning (AR) (6); Landless People's Movement (LPM) (5); Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) (5); Other (9)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
42.3%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
National Council
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
December 2025
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
12/15/2020
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
42 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
14.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1991
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Axali DOESEB
Government: National color(s)
blue, red, green, white, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Government: National symbol(s)
oryx (antelope)
Government: Political parties
All People's Party or APP Christian Democratic Voice or CDV Landless People's Movement or LPM National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance or DTA) Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Republican Party or RP South West Africa National Union or SWANU South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO United Democratic Front or UDF United People's Movement or UPM
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990, and SWAPO has governed it since, although the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA, who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority, and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament.
Military and Security: Military - note
the NDF’s primary responsibility is defending Namibia's territorial integrity and national interests; other responsibilities include support to civil authorities and participating in peace and stability missions under the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and the UN; Namibia has bilateral defense ties with several countries, including Botswana, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia the NDF was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); the PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Namibian Army, Namibian Navy, Namibian Air Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 12,000 active Namibian Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the NDF's inventory consists mostly of Soviet-era weapons and equipment; over the past decade, it has received a limited number of newer weapons systems from China and South Africa; Namibia has a small defense industry that produces items such as armored personnel carriers (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
4.53% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
3.97% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
3.52% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
3.33% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
3.30% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
3.48% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
3.23% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.91% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.75% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.73% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
34.1% (male 482,790/female 473,306)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62% (male 846,810/female 890,099)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,686/female 62,969)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
23.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.48% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
33.7% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
15.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
60.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
54 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 73.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 96.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
9.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
24.6% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
9.08% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
9.00% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
24.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
31 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
63.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
87.4% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
87.9% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
87.64% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
139 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
23.5 years
People and Society: Median age: male
22.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
21.6 years (2013 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Namibian
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
17.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
3,030,131 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.24% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,450,641
People and Society: Population: male
1,402,136
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 49% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 70.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 51% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.95 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
3.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
20.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
11.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
50.41% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
1,399 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
6,575 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
14,796 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
259 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V5
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 1, other 14
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
15 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
2,628 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.