| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | - | 3.77 | 4.25 | 3.15 | 1.74 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.7 |
| CPI % | 13.7 | 11.22 | 7.14 | 7.2 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 |
| Unemployment rate | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 18.79 | 24.3 | 16.1 | 40.8 | 67.9 | 69.8 | 70.2 | 70.5 | 71.2 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | 1.1 | 2.91 | 5.22 | -3.8 | -6.91 | -15.2 | -14.2 | -13.2 | -15.7 | -13.6 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 824,292 sq km km2
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
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:
Religions: Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)
Capital: Windhoek
Government type: presidential republic
Chief of state: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Head of government: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Description: Parliament - bicameral
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
mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 7.3% (2024 est.), Industry: 28.9% (2024 est.), Services: 54.5% (2024 est.)
Export partners: South Africa 27%, China 12%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7%, France 5% (2023)
Export commodities: gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023)
Import partners: South Africa 36%, China 9%, India 7%, UAE 4%, USA 3% (2023)
Import commodities: refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023)
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Military expenditure: 2024: 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.