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...
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With a safety index of 37/100, Namibia offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.
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,...
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25% below EU avg
44% below EU avg
Near EU average
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.
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.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable (CPI: 36.6). Groceries (37.6), restaurants (32.1), and rent (14.1) are low compared to NYC=100 baseline.
Housing Market
Very affordable with property prices at 3.3 years of household income. Low rent index (14.1) supports accessibility for residents.
Average Income Levels
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
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 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
Social Security Commission provides pensions and benefits; public healthcare available but quality varies. Limited unemployment insurance amid 19% rate.
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.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
64.4
Population
2,540,916
Religions
Ethnic Composition
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.
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.
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Capital
WindhoekLanguages
Afrikaans, German, English, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana
UN Member
Yes
Major Cities
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
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.