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Country profile · compared with SADC

Namibia

SADCCurrency NAD

Namibia is home to 3.1m people (2025) and has an economy of $15.1bn (2025), the 11th largest in SADC. Output per person of $4,876 is above the regional median of $2,539. The economy grew 1.7% in 2025, and the IMF expects 2.0% in 2026. Inflation was 3.5% in 2025, close to the regional median of 3.6%. 59.3% of people have electricity (2024).

Where Namibia stands out

  • Women in the lower house of parliamentRepresentation shapes policy priorities, and several SADC countries have legal targets or quotas to meet.2nd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    2nd highest of 16 in SADC
  • ATMs per 100,000 adultsA measure of the physical cash and card network, which matters for retail, payments and bank distribution.2nd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    2nd highest of 16 in SADC
  • Health spending paid out of pocketHigh shares mean thin insurance cover, cash-paying patients and room for medical schemes and pharmacies.3rd lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    3rd lowest of 16 in SADC

What to watch

  • Current account balancePersistent large deficits must be financed by capital inflows.3rd lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    3rd lowest of 16 in SADC
  • Real GDP growthGrowth expands the market an investment sells into and eases debt burdens.4th lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    4th lowest of 16 in SADC
  • UnemploymentHigh unemployment means available labour but also weak demand and social pressure.4th highest of 15 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    4th highest of 15 in SADC

Namibia scores best on governance and weakest on stability

Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within SADC, against the SADC median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.

NamibiaSADC median
Market sizeGrowthStabilityInfrastructureDigital,financeGovernanceUnmetdemand49433763718138
Source: Investor Lens method·dotzedw Insights Centre

The IMF expects Namibia to grow 2.0% in 2026

Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.

ActualIMF forecast
0.0%0.5%1.0%1.5%2.0%2.5%3.0%1.7%20252.0%20262.7%20273.0%2028

Ten years of history are free with a Reader account.

Source: IMF·dotzedw Insights Centre

Farming employs 22% of workers but produces 7% of output

Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.

Share of jobsShare of GDP
0%20%40%60%80%Agriculture22%7%15 pts apartIndustry17%29%12 pts apartServices61%55%6 pts apart
Source: World Bank, ILO·dotzedw Insights Centre

Key figures

The bar under each figure places it among the 16 countries of SADC, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.

Namibia on the map

Its 13 regions and 102 constituencies, shaded by population, power, water, transport and more; circles sized by value; or power lines, roads and masts on a street map.

Open the full map
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How Namibia generates electricity

Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.

CoalGasOilWindNuclearBioenergy and otherHydroSolar

No electricity data for Namibia.

The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan

US$19 a month or US$190 a year. Subscribe on dotzedw.com and you come straight back to this page with Individual access. Already a member? Sign in with your dotzedw.com account.

Source: Ember, Energy Institute· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Politics, parliament and elections

Compare all countries

The President is directly elected and is head of state and government; a Prime Minister leads government business. SWAPO has governed since independence in 1990. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became the first woman President in March 2025, but SWAPO's Assembly share has fallen from 80% in 2014 to 53% in 2024, below the two thirds needed to change the Constitution.

President
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO), since 21 Mar 2025
How the executive is chosen
Directly elected; a candidate needs more than half of the valid votes, otherwise a run-off is held
Term and limits
Five years; a president may serve at most two terms
Governing
SWAPO
In power since
SWAPO, 1990 (36 years)
SWAPO has held the presidency and an Assembly majority since independence.
Next national election
November 2029 (general)

SWAPO holds 51 of 96 seats

National Assembly, seats as of 20 Mar 2025. List PR; 5-year term

104seatsMajority 49 · Two thirds 64 (dashed lines)
  • SWAPO51
  • APP8
  • IPC20
  • AR7
  • PDM5
  • LPM5
  • OTH4
  • UDF1
  • Other opposition parties3
How seats are filled
96 members are elected by closed-list proportional representation in a single national constituency. Eight members appointed by the President, who may speak but not vote.
Powers
Passes laws and the budget and can remove the President by a two-thirds vote with the National Council.
Special majority
Two thirds of Assembly members are needed to amend the Constitution. The governing side does not have it.
Elections
Last 27 Nov 2024; next November 2029
Source: 2024 Namibian general election·dotzedw Insights Centre

SWAPO holds 39 of 42 seats

National Council, seats as of December 2025. Indirect; 5-year term

42seatsMajority 22 (dashed lines)
  • SWAPO39
  • PDM2
  • UDF1
How seats are filled
Indirectly elected by the regional councils after the regional elections. Three members from each of the 14 regions, chosen by the regional councils.
Powers
Reviews bills passed by the National Assembly and can refer them back; it cannot block them outright.
Elections
Last 26 Nov 2025; next 2030
Source: National Council (Namibia) (Wikipedia)·dotzedw Insights Centre

What the record shows

  • SWAPO has governed for 36 years, since 1990, without losing a national election.
  • SWAPO's share of the parliamentary vote has fallen from 80% in 2014 to 53.4% in 2024.
  • The last presidential election, in 2024, was a landslide: the winner took 58.1%, 32 points ahead of the runner-up.
  • The governing side holds 51 of 96 seats in the National Assembly; it would need 64 to change the Constitution without opposition votes.
  • Turnout has stayed around 77% of registered voters.
  • V-Dem's clean elections score is 60 out of 100, down from 76 in 2015.

The largest party won 53% of the parliamentary vote in 2024, against 74% in 1994

Every lower-house election since 1990: the largest party's share of the vote and of the seats, and turnout of registered voters. Open circles mark a change of government.

Largest party: votesLargest party: seatsTurnout
0%20%40%60%80%100%199520002005201020152020HalfTwo thirds76.5%Turnout53.4%Largest party: votes53.1%Largest party: seats
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

The winner's lead over the runner-up was 32 points in 2024

First-round share of the valid vote for the winner and the runner-up in each presidential election since 1990.

WinnerRunner-up
0%20%40%60%80%100%199520002005201020152020Half58.1%Winner25.8%Runner-up
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

Every national election

DateElectionResultTurnoutNotes
27 Nov 2024National AssemblyNational Assembly, 2024SWAPO53.4%, 51 seatsIPC20.2%, 20 seatsAR6.6%, 7 seatsSWAPO 53.4%, 51 seats; IPC 20.2%, 20 seats76.5%Disputed
27 Nov 2024PresidentialPresidential, 2024Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO)58.1%Panduleni Itula (IPC)25.8%McHenry Venaani (PDM)5.0%Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO) 58.1%; Panduleni Itula (IPC) 25.8%76.9%Disputed
27 Nov 2019ParliamentSWAPO 63 seats; DTA 16 seats60.4% V-Dem
2019PresidentialPresidential, 2019Hage Geingob56.3%Runner-up29.4%Hage Geingob 56.3%; Runner-up 29.4%60.4% V-Dem
28 Nov 2014ParliamentParliament, 2014SWAPO80.0%, 77 seatsDTA4.8%, 5 seatsSWAPO 80.0%, 77 seats; DTA 4.8%, 5 seats71.8% V-Dem
2014PresidentialPresidential, 2014Hage Geingob86.7%Runner-up5.0%Hage Geingob 86.7%; Runner-up 5.0%71.8% V-Dem

Checked 30 Sept 2026. Not yet recorded: The four seats under Other parties are held by four small parties with one seat each; names not recorded.

Election calendar

All elections

Hover a vote for its result and what it means.

  • 2029
    General election
    Namibia: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
    Expected
  • 27 Nov 2024
    General electionWon by Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
    Namibia: General electionResult: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO) elected as Namibia’s first woman president; SWAPO kept its majority.Continuity of SWAPO rule. Green hydrogen, oil discoveries offshore and local ownership rules are the policy areas investors are watching.Sources: IPU Parline, Wikipedia
    Held

Deals and projects

Every deal in Namibia

Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.

dotzedw analysis on Namibia

All analysis

Sources and method