2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

823,290 sq km

total

824,292 sq km

water

1,002 sq km

Area - comparative

almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Climate

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline

1,572 km

Elevation

highest point

Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

1,141 m

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

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

Irrigated land

80 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km

total

4,220 km

Land use

agricultural land

47.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)

forest

9.8% (2023 est.)

other

43.1% (2023 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Major aquifers

Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Orange (941,351 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage

Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish

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

Terrain

mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Age structure

0-14 years

34.1% (male 482,790/female 473,306)

15-64 years

62% (male 846,810/female 890,099)

65 years and over

3.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,686/female 62,969)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

23.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

33.7% (2018 est.)

Death rate

6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.5 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

15.5 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

60.5 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

54 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 73.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 96.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

9.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

24.6% national budget (2025 est.)

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%

Gross reproduction rate

1.4 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

31 deaths/1,000 live births

total

27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4%, Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.6 years

male

64.2 years

total population

65.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

87.4% (2023 est.)

male

87.9% (2023 est.)

total population

87.6% (2023 est.)

Major urban areas - population

477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

139 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

23.5 years

male

22.1 years

total

23.1 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.6 years (2013 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Namibian

noun

Namibian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.2% (2016)

Physician density

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

1,450,641

male

1,402,136

total

2,852,777 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

1.76% (2025 est.)

Religions

Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 49% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 70.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 51% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

3.9% (2025 est.)

male

20.5% (2025 est.)

total

11.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

54.9% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi

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

geographic coordinates

22 34 S, 17 05 E

name

Windhoek

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

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

history

adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Namibia

conventional short form

Namibia

etymology

named for the coastal Namib Desert; the word namib comes from the local Nama language and means "an area where there is nothing"

former

German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa

local long form

Republic of Namibia

local short form

Namibia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025)

email address and website

ConsularWindhoek@state.gov https://na.usembassy.gov/

embassy

38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek

FAX

[264] (61) 202-5219

mailing address

2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540

telephone

[264] (61) 202-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025)

email address and website

info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)

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%

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)

expected date of next election

November 2029

head of government

President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)

most recent election date

27 November 2024

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 type

presidential republic

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)

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

subordinate courts

High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts

Legal system

mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

National Assembly

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

November 2029

most recent election date

11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024

number of seats

104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed)

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)

percentage of women in chamber

42.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

National Council

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

December 2025

most recent election date

12/15/2020

number of seats

42 (all indirectly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

14.3%

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1991

lyrics/music

Axali DOESEB

title

"Namibia, Land of the Brave"

National color(s)

blue, red, green, white, yellow

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n)

total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

National symbol(s)

oryx (antelope)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

root vegetables, milk, maize, beef, grapes, onions, wheat, fruits, pulses, vegetables (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$4.779 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$4.415 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$1.605 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$2.055 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

upper middle-income, export-driven Sub-Saharan economy; natural resource rich; Walvis Bay port expansion for trade; high potential for renewable power generation and energy independence; major nature-based tourist locale; natural resource rich; shortage of skilled labor

Exchange rates

Currency

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

16.463 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

14.779 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

16.356 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

18.446 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

18.329 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$5.361 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$5.729 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$5.887 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023)

Exports - partners

South Africa 27%, China 12%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7%, France 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

41.6% (2024 est.)

government consumption

21.5% (2024 est.)

household consumption

79.3% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-68% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

1.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

7.3% (2024 est.)

industry

28.9% (2024 est.)

services

54.5% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.372 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

59.1 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

47.2% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%

1% (2015 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$7.43 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$8.443 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$9.199 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023)

Imports - partners

South Africa 36%, China 9%, India 7%, UAE 4%, USA 3% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2024 est.)

Industries

mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.131 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

17.4% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2019

4.64% of GDP (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$28.761 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$30.039 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$31.154 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$10,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$10,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$10,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.803 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$2.956 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$3.356 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

19.7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

19.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

19.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

38% (2024 est.)

male

36.7% (2024 est.)

total

37.3% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

900 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

26,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

350 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

169 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

646,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

747.409 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

33.2%

electrification - total population

56.2% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

74.8%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

proven reserves

62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2023 est.)

total

104,000 (2023 est.)

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

Internet country code

.na

Internet users

percent of population

64% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

81,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

85 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

2.58 million (2024 est.)

Airports

259 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V5

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1, other 14

total

15 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

2

small

2

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

0

Railways

narrow gauge

2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

total

2,628 km (2014)

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 forces

Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Namibian Army, Namibian Navy, Namibian Air Force (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 12,000 active Namibian Defense Forces (2025)

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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

1,399 (2024 est.)

refugees

6,575 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

14,796 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

3.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

3.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity; wildlife poaching

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

193.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

2.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

13.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

11.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

201 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

18.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

61.568 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

256,700 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

19.6% (2022 est.)