GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of Namibia's expansive savannah with acacia trees and distant mountains.Breathtaking view of the arid Erongo landscape in Namibia featuring distinct hills under a soft, warm sky.

Namibia

Africa · Southern Africa

High safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

Incomes are low.

BackpackerCombines affordable cost of living and high safety.
vs South Africa
Safety

62nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.872lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#62 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
11.2per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2021
Safety index
36.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$4,340national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
14.2New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 21% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 5% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$6.0K$12K$11,986 PPP$4,876Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $4,017 a person, $7,374 at PPP, inflation 5%2007, $4,379 a person, $7,875 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2008, $4,205 a person, $8,125 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2009, $4,303 a person, $8,079 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2010, $5,418 a person, $8,538 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2011, $5,835 a person, $9,002 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $5,943 a person, $9,364 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2013, $5,347 a person, $9,699 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2014, $5,378 a person, $10,365 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2015, $4,774 a person, $10,466 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2016, $4,396 a person, $10,200 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2017, $5,144 a person, $9,888 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2018, $5,309 a person, $9,854 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2019, $4,732 a person, $9,609 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2020, $3,879 a person, $9,354 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2021, $4,413 a person, $9,709 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2022, $4,350 a person, $10,661 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2023, $4,226 a person, $11,248 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2024, $4,502 a person, $11,698 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2025, $4,876 a person, $11,986 at PPP, inflation 3.5%$0$6.0K$12KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $4,017 a person, $7,374 at PPP, inflation 5%2007, $4,379 a person, $7,875 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2008, $4,205 a person, $8,125 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2009, $4,303 a person, $8,079 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2010, $5,418 a person, $8,538 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2011, $5,835 a person, $9,002 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $5,943 a person, $9,364 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2013, $5,347 a person, $9,699 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2014, $5,378 a person, $10,365 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2015, $4,774 a person, $10,466 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2016, $4,396 a person, $10,200 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2017, $5,144 a person, $9,888 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2018, $5,309 a person, $9,854 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2019, $4,732 a person, $9,609 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2020, $3,879 a person, $9,354 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2021, $4,413 a person, $9,709 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2022, $4,350 a person, $10,661 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2023, $4,226 a person, $11,248 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2024, $4,502 a person, $11,698 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2025, $4,876 a person, $11,986 at PPP, inflation 3.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
67.5years, at birthLow
#151 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
66WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
12.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
19.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
16 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet16 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$2,000 a month
Duration
6 months
Renewable
No
Application fee
N$2,200about $124
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
Breathtaking view of the arid Erongo landscape in Namibia featuring distinct hills under a soft, warm sky.
How it changed

Namibia's Human Development Index

0.665Medium human development

136th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 14th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #133Equatorial Guinea0.674
  2. #135Cape Verde0.668
  3. #136Namibia0.665
  4. #137Guatemala0.662
  5. #138Republic of the Congo0.649
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.597 in 1990 to 0.665 in 2023.

0.500.600.700.66519902000201020231990: 0.5971991: 0.6021992: 0.6031993: 0.6011994: 0.6001995: 0.5951996: 0.5871997: 0.5801998: 0.5741999: 0.5652000: 0.5612001: 0.5552002: 0.5552003: 0.5582004: 0.5632005: 0.5642006: 0.5692007: 0.5762008: 0.5812009: 0.5852010: 0.5912011: 0.5982012: 0.6072013: 0.6162014: 0.6242015: 0.6302016: 0.6342017: 0.6382018: 0.6422019: 0.6472020: 0.6472021: 0.6312022: 0.6492023: 0.6650.500.600.7019902000201020231990: 0.5971991: 0.6021992: 0.6031993: 0.6011994: 0.6001995: 0.5951996: 0.5871997: 0.5801998: 0.5741999: 0.5652000: 0.5612001: 0.5552002: 0.5552003: 0.5582004: 0.5632005: 0.5642006: 0.5692007: 0.5762008: 0.5812009: 0.5852010: 0.5912011: 0.5982012: 0.6072013: 0.6162014: 0.6242015: 0.6302016: 0.6342017: 0.6382018: 0.6422019: 0.6472020: 0.6472021: 0.6312022: 0.6492023: 0.665

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
67.5 years2024at birthUp 15 years from 52.6 years in 2005
Internet users
65%2024of people onlineUp 60 points from 4% in 2006
Urban population
51%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 13 points from 38% in 2006
Births per woman
3.212024births per womanDown 0.36 from 3.57 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
30%2021of energy usedDown 5 points from 35% in 2004
Access to electricity
59%2024of people with electricityUp 20 points from 40% in 2005
Infant mortality
362024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 5 from 41 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.1 t from 1.3 t in 2005
Forest area
8%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 9% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Africa's most sparsely populated country, and one of its most stable democracies, wrapped in desert. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Namibia

Namibia is a southern African country of haunting desert beauty, where the orange dunes of Sossusvlei, the vast Etosha salt pan, the Skeleton Coast, and the ancient Himba culture of the northwest combine to create one of the most visually dramatic landscapes on earth. The country is sparsely populated, well-organised, and safe for independent travel by 4x4. Those who love landscape, wildlife, and a sense of being genuinely far from the crowd will find it deeply satisfying.

Practical facts

  • CapitalWindhoek
  • LanguagesAfrikaans, German, English, Herero
  • CurrencyNamibian dollar (NAD)
  • Area823,290 km²
  • Plug typeType C/M/N
  • Drives on theleft
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Borders

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Quick answers

What is Namibia's Human Development Index?

Namibia's Human Development Index is 0.665 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #136 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Namibia safe?

Namibia scores 1.87 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #62 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Namibia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Namibia at 36.3 (New York = 100); that is #50 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Namibia?

Life expectancy at birth in Namibia is 67.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #151 of 195 countries.