Economy of Namibia

Economy of Namibia
Windhoek, the capital and economic centre of Namibia
Currency
1 NAD = 1 ZAR
1 April – 31 March
Trade organisations
AU, AfCFTA, WTO, SADC, SACU
Country group
Statistics
Population 3,022,401 (2023)
GDP
  • N$227,8 billion, +10.8% (nominal, 2023)
  • N$151,4 billion, +4.2% (real [constant 2015 prices], 2023)
GDP per capita
  • N$75,381 (nominal, 2023)
GDP by sector
5.9% (2023 Average Annual Inflation Rate)
59.1 high (2015, World Bank)
  • 0.610 medium (2021) (139th)
  • 0.399 low IHDI (2021)
Labour force
  • 1.09 million (2018)*
Unemployment 33.4% (2018)
Main industries
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
External
Exports N$97.4 billion (2022)
Export goods
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks
Main export partners
Sep 2023 Exports
Imports N$129.0 billion (2022)
Import goods
petroleum oils; chemicals, vehicles, civil engineering & contractors equipment
Main import partners
Sep 2023 Imports
FDI stock
  • N$147,520 billion inflow stock as at Jun 2023
−N$2.498 billion (Jun 2023)
Public finances
62.5% of GDP (2023/24)
N$53.752 billion (30 September 2023)
Revenues N$81.069 billion (2023/24)
Expenses N$76.960 billion (2022/23)
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The economy of Namibia has a modern market sector, which produces most of the country's wealth, and a traditional subsistence sector. Although the majority of the population engages in subsistence agriculture and herding, Namibia has more than 200,000 skilled workers and a considerable number of well-trained professionals and managerials.