Namibia Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Windhoek

Population

2,852,777 (2025 est.)

Area

824,292 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

824,292 sq km

Area — land

823,290 sq km

Area — water

1,002 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries — total

4,220 km

Land boundaries — border countries

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

Coastline

1,572 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Climate

Desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain

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

Elevation — highest point

Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m

Elevation — lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

1,141 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

47.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

9.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

43.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

80 sq km (2012)

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)

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Internal (endorheic basin) drainage

Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

Major aquifers

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

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

Natural hazards

Prolonged periods of drought

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

2,852,777 (2025 est.)

Population — male

1,402,136

Population — female

1,450,641

Nationality — noun

Namibian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Namibian

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%

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.)

Religions

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

Age structure — 0-14 years

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

Age structure — 15-64 years

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

Age structure — 65 years and over

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

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

60.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

54 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

6.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

15.5 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

23.1 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

22.1 years

Median age — female

23.5 years

Population growth rate

1.76% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

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

Urbanization — urban population

54.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.6 years (2013 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate — total

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

Infant mortality rate — male

31 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

65.9 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

64.2 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

67.6 years

Total fertility rate

2.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.4 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 96.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 73.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 70.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 49% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 51% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

11.8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

20.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

3.9% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

33.7% (2018 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

9.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

24.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

87.6% (2023 est.)

Literacy — male

87.9% (2023 est.)

Literacy — female

87.4% (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Land use — agricultural land

47.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

9.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

43.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

54.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

3.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

3.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

11.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

2.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

193.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

13.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

256,700 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

19.6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

61.568 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

18.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

201 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Namibia

Country name — conventional short form

Namibia

Country name — local long form

Republic of Namibia

Country name — local short form

Namibia

Country name — former

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

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 type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Windhoek

Capital — geographic coordinates

22 34 S, 17 05 E

Capital — time difference

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

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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution — history

Adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990

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

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)

Executive branch — head of government

President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

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

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)

Executive branch — most recent election date

27 November 2024

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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

November 2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

National Assembly

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

42.3%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

November 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

National Council

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

42 (all indirectly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

12/15/2020

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

14.3%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

December 2025

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

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

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[264] (61) 202-5000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[264] (61) 202-5219

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

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

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

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

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

National symbol(s)

Oryx (antelope)

National color(s)

Blue, red, green, white, yellow

National anthem(s) — title

"Namibia, Land of the Brave"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Axali DOESEB

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1991

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

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

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$31.154 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$30.039 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$28.761 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$10,300 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$10,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$10,000 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.372 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

7.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

28.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

54.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

79.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

21.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

23.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

1.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

41.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-68% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

Mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.131 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

19.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

19.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

19.7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

37.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

36.7% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

38% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

17.4% (2015 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 — lowest 10%

1% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

47.2% (2015 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$4.415 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$4.779 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2019

4.64% of GDP (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$2.055 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$1.605 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$5.887 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$5.729 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$5.361 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

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

Exports - commodities

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

Imports — Imports 2024

$9.199 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$8.443 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$7.43 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

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

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$3.356 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$2.956 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.803 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

18.329 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

18.446 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

16.356 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

14.779 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

16.463 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

56.2% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

74.8%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

33.2%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

646,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

169 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

747.409 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

900 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

26,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

350 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

81,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

2.58 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

85 (2024 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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

104,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V5

Airports

259 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways — total

2,628 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

15 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 1, other 14

Ports — total ports

2 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

2

Ports — very small

0

Ports — ports with oil terminals

2

Ports — key ports

Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

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

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

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 service age and obligation

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

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)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

6,575 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

1,399 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

14,796 (2024 est.)