Road between Swakopmund and Walfish Bay, Namibia; sandstorm
Sand dunes in Namib Desert, Namibia
Nama Woman in Kalahari Desert, Namibia.
Damara Zebras at Chudop waterhole, Etosha, Namibia.
Herero ladies near Uis, Namibia.
Male elephant in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Namibia

Atlantic Ocean
Climate
NAD
Currency
Caution
Safety
Low
Cost of Living
Afrikaans
Language
Country Information Namibia

Namibia is a vast, sparsely populated country located in southwestern Africa, bordered by Angola, Botswana, South Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its dramatic landscapes, the country features diverse terrain including the Namib Desert—one o...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average25% cheaper
Rent
NAD11,000Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
NAD165Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
NAD30.00Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
NAD12.00One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Namibia Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 37/100, Namibia offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Beginning April 1, 2025, Namibia implemented a reciprocal visa policy requiring nationals from 33 countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and most EU nations (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland)—to obtain a tourist visa.[1][3] This policy shift aims to address visa reciprocity imbalances, as these countries do not grant visa-free entry to Namibian passport holders. Tourists have two convenient options for obtaining their visa. The online visa-on-arrival system (https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/visaonarrival) allows travelers to apply in advance through Namibia's e-visa portal,...

Tourism
Work & Business
Long-term Stay
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Namibia

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Location Intelligence for Namibia
Cost of Living35.4

25% below EU avg

Safety36.6

44% below EU avg

Quality of Life157.1

Near EU average

Purchasing Power77.7

11% above EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Windhoek

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Area

825,615 km²

Population

2,540,916

Namibia shows a purchasing power index of 78/100, indicating good economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Namibia

GDP

$12.61B

HDI

0.6

Quality of Life

68/100

+25 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

32/100

-10 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Namibia. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Namibia
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Very High

Very affordable (CPI: 36.6). Groceries (37.6), restaurants (32.1), and rent (14.1) are low compared to NYC=100 baseline.

Housing Market

Excellent

Very affordable with property prices at 3.3 years of household income. Low rent index (14.1) supports accessibility for residents.

Average Income Levels

Poor

Purchasing power index of 76 indicates below average buying power. GDP per capita around $4,000 USD with high unemployment at 19.1%.

Tax System

Good

Progressive income tax up to 37% for high earners, with VAT at 15% and no general property tax on primary residences. System is clear with regional variations minimal.

Business Environment

Moderate

Moderate ease of doing business; GDP growth projected at 3.8% in 2025 and 4.0% in 2026 driven by mining and construction. Regulatory environment improving but bureaucracy persists.

Social Security

Moderate

Social Security Commission provides pensions and benefits; public healthcare available but quality varies. Limited unemployment insurance amid 19% rate.

Work & Business in Namibia
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Namibia features a predominantly arid climate with diverse dry zones influenced by the cold Benguela Current along the coast and interior rain shadows. The Köppen classification reveals hot desert (BWh), hot semi-arid (BSh), and limited cold semi-arid (BSk) areas, with over 300 days of sunshine annually.

Climate
Hot Desert, Hot Semi-Arid
Summer
22–35°C
Winter
5–25°C
Sunshine
3200+ hrs/yr

5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Namibia

Life Expectancy

64.4

Population

2,540,916

Religions

Christianity
97.5%
Non-religious
1.9%

Ethnic Composition

African
93.2%
Coloured
3.6%
White
1.8%
other
1.4%
What Expats Say About NamibiaBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Namibia. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Namibia
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Namibia
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Namibia
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Namibia is a presidential republic with a bicameral legislature, currently led by President Dr. Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah, the country's first female president elected in December 2024. The ruling SWAPO party maintains a bare majority in the National Assembly following the 2024 elections, marking its weakest electoral showing since independence in 1990. The country operates as a multi-party democracy with constitutional protections for civil rights and a functioning independent judiciary.

System
Presidential Republic
Democracy
Full Democracy
Legal System
Mixed legal system based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Namibia
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Namibia flag
Namibia at a Glance

Capital

Windhoek

Languages

Afrikaans, German, English, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Namibia

Population

2,540,916

Currency

NAD

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Calling Code

+264

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

59.1 (2015)

Traffic side

left side

Location

Map coordinates not available for this location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.