According to the Namibia Statistics Agency Financial Inclusion Survey, 51.3% of Namibia's working population borrows to buy food, with 546,000 working Namibians having no disposable income and taking up debt to finance basic needs. Borrowing (both formal and informal) has increased from 42.1% in 2017 to 49% in 2025, driven by low wages and rising living costs.
23 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Statistics Agency's 2025 Financial Inclusion Survey found that 49% of adults borrowed money across all forms, up from 42.1% in 2017. The primary purposes for borrowing are food (51.3%), education (22.1%), and transport (16.4%), while 51% of the eligible population reported not borrowing, with 67.5% citing fear of debt as the main reason.
23 July 2026 · Informanté →
A Namibia Financial Inclusion Survey shows that 86% of adults now have access to financial services, up from 78% in 2017, with over 425,700 more Namibians entering the financial system. However, more than half of adults earn N$2,000 or less per month, and many use financial services mainly to survive rather than build wealth.
23 July 2026 · New Era →