Country profile · Sub-Saharan Africa

🇳🇦 Namibia

Lower middle income. Capital Windhoek. Full World Bank, WHO, ILO & OECD indicator profile across 45 measures, with regional peers and rankings.

3 million
Population
$13.4 billion
GDP
$4,413
GDP / capita
67.4 years
Life expectancy
Sub-Saharan Africa Lower middle income Capital: Windhoek

Namibia on the global income map

Namibia (NAM) plotted alongside its largest economic peers on GDP per capita and the Human Development Index. Bubble area scales with population; color encodes income tier; gold rings mark OECD members.

Namibia on the global income map Namibia positioned on the GDP-per-capita / HDI plane against its largest economic peers. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Human Development Index (0–1) India — GDP/cap $2,695 · lower-middle income IND China — GDP/cap $13,303 · upper-middle income CHN United States — GDP/cap $84,534 · high income · OECD USA Indonesia — GDP/cap $4,925 · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan — GDP/cap $1,479 · lower-middle income Nigeria — GDP/cap $1,084 · low income Brazil — GDP/cap $10,311 · upper-middle income Bangladesh — GDP/cap $2,593 · lower-middle income Russian Federation — GDP/cap $14,889 · high income Ethiopia — GDP/cap $1,134 · low income Mexico — GDP/cap $14,186 · high income · OECD Japan — GDP/cap $32,487 · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. — GDP/cap $3,338 · lower-middle income Philippines — GDP/cap $3,985 · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. — GDP/cap $649 · low income Viet Nam — GDP/cap $4,717 · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. — GDP/cap $5,190 · upper-middle income Turkiye — GDP/cap $15,893 · high income · OECD Germany — GDP/cap $56,104 · high income · OECD Thailand — GDP/cap $7,347 · upper-middle income United Kingdom — GDP/cap $53,246 · high income · OECD Tanzania — GDP/cap $1,187 · lower-middle income France — GDP/cap $46,103 · high income · OECD South Africa — GDP/cap $6,267 · upper-middle income Italy — GDP/cap $40,385 · high income · OECD Kenya — GDP/cap $2,132 · lower-middle income Myanmar — GDP/cap $1,359 · lower-middle income Colombia — GDP/cap $7,919 · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. — GDP/cap $36,239 · high income · OECD Sudan — GDP/cap $985 · low income Namibia — GDP/cap $4,413 · lower-middle income Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member

Indicators tracked

45

Across 8 topic areas

GDP per capita

$4,413

Latest WB report

Population

3 million

UN estimate

OECD member

No

Outside OECD harmonized stats

Population
3 million
GDP
$13.4 billion
GDP per Capita
$4,413
Life Expectancy
67.4 years

Overview

Namibia has a population of 3 million, making it the 137th-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Its economy totals $13.4 billion — ranked 148th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $4,413, placing it in the Lower middle income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 67.4 years (ranked 169th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Windhoek.

👥 Demographics

Fertility Rate
3.2
2023
Population
3 million
2024
Population Ages 0-14
37.0%
2024
Population Ages 65+
3.7%
2024
Population Density
3.6/km²
2023
Population Growth Rate
2.2%
2024
Urban Population
50.4%
2024

💰 Economy

Foreign Direct Investment
$2 billion
2024
GDP (Current USD)
$13.4 billion
2024
GDP Growth Rate
3.7%
2024
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$4,413.128
2024
GNI Per Capita
$4,240
2024
Government Debt (% of GDP)
4.7%
2015
Inflation (Consumer Prices)
4.2%
2024
Trade (% of GDP)
109.6%
2024
Unemployment Rate
19.2%
2024

🏥 Health

Health Expenditure (% of GDP)
9.5%
2023
Infant Mortality Rate
38.4 per 1,000
2023
Life Expectancy at Birth
67.4 years
2023
Maternal Mortality Ratio
139
2023
Physicians (per 1,000 people)
0.6 per 1,000
2022
Stunting Prevalence (under 5)
22.7
2013
Under-5 Mortality Rate
40.7 per 1,000
2023

📚 Education

Education Expenditure (% of GDP)
9.1%
2024
Literacy Rate (Adult)
87.6
2023
School Enrollment (Primary)
120.7
2024
School Enrollment (Secondary)
82.0
2024
School Enrollment (Tertiary)
26.1
2022
Youth Literacy Rate
92.1
2023

🌍 Environment

Electric Power Consumption
1,231 kWh
2022
Forest Area
7.8
2023
Freshwater Withdrawal
1.7
2022
Renewable Energy Consumption
30.0%
2021

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Electricity
56.7%
2023
Internet Users
64.4%
2023
Mobile Subscriptions
87.7
2023

⚖️ Social

Female Labor Participation
54.9
2024
GINI Index
59.1
2015
Intentional Homicides
11.2
2021
Male Labor Participation
63.1
2024
Net Migration
4.2K
2024
Poverty (< $2.15/day)
22.9%
2015

💼 Labor & Wages

Average Monthly Earnings
$547/mo
2018
Average Weekly Hours Worked
44.9 hrs/wk
2018
PPP Conversion Factor (GDP)
6.92
2024

🫀 Disease Burden

Key causes of death and disease risk in Namibia. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

NCD Death Rate
557
per 100K · 2021
Premature NCD Risk
23.1%
dying 30–70 from NCD
Road Traffic Deaths
22.0
per 100K
Suicide Rate
27.0
per 100K
TB Deaths
54.00
per 100K
Maternal Mortality
139
per 100K births

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: 2021. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

⛏️ Mineral Production

Namibia is among the world's top producers of 1 mineral. View all minerals →

Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024. Data year 2023.

Compare Namibia with Another Country

What the data says about Namibia

Every figure on this profile is a single measurement drawn from an official international dataset, and each one carries assumptions worth understanding before drawing conclusions. Income and output are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, so they move with currency swings as well as real growth, and national averages can hide wide gaps between regions and households. Health and demographic measures are period estimates compiled from vital registration, surveys, and statistical models, and their reporting year often lags the present by one to three years. Reading several indicators together, rather than fixating on a single headline number, is what turns a row of statistics into a grounded picture of how people in this country actually live, work, and age.

Namibia sits in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of 3 million, placing it 137th out of 217 countries by headcount. Its capital, Windhoek, anchors a Lower middle income economy with total GDP of $13.4 billion — ranked 148th globally — and GDP per capita of $4,413. This combination of demographic scale and economic output shapes everything from household purchasing power and domestic market depth to the country's weight in regional trade flows and international development programmes.

Life expectancy at birth in Namibia is 67.4 years, ranking 169th worldwide and offering a summary read on healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and long-run living standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators, combined with the WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT wage statistics, expose 45 data points across 8 thematic areas — from fertility and urbanisation to CO₂ emissions, school enrolment, and labour-force participation. Reading these indicators together, rather than in isolation, is what turns headline numbers into a grounded portrait of how people actually live.

Use the indicator tables below to track trajectories over time, jump to Namibia's placement on specific rankings such as GDP, population density, or life expectancy, and open the side-by-side Compare view to benchmark against peers inside Sub-Saharan Africa or across income groups. Because all figures come from official, CC BY 4.0-licensed datasets with clear vintages, you can cite them directly in research or journalism. Where a field reads "N/A", the upstream agency has not yet released that value for Namibia — we never fabricate estimates or carry forward stale values, so missing points stay visible rather than quietly filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the data for Namibia come from?

Data for Namibia is sourced from the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, and ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours). These are official, publicly available datasets.

How current is the data for Namibia?

Data availability varies by indicator. Most recent data points range from 2020 to 2024, depending on the indicator and reporting frequency. World Bank indicators are updated annually, while WHO disease burden data follows the Global Burden of Disease study schedule.

Can I compare Namibia with other countries?

Yes. Use the Compare feature to see a side-by-side comparison of Namibia with any other country across all available indicators. You can also explore rankings to see where Namibia stands globally on specific measures like GDP, population, or life expectancy.

What does GDP per capita tell us about Namibia?

GDP per capita divides Namibia's total economic output by its population, giving an approximate measure of average economic productivity per person. It is reported in current US dollars. For fairer cross-country comparisons, purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments account for differences in the cost of goods and services.

How does Namibia's life expectancy compare to the global average?

Life expectancy at birth for Namibia is 67.4 years, ranking 169th out of 217 countries tracked. The global average is approximately 73 years. Life expectancy reflects healthcare quality, nutrition, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions.

Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for Namibia?

PlainCountries focuses on development indicators, health data, and economic statistics. For visa requirements and immigration policies, visit PlainVisa at plainvisa.com. For international flight route data, check PlainFlights at plainflights.com.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the World Bank, WHO, ILO, and OECD. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.