Namibia Statistics Agency — compiles official data on inflation, trade, employment, and household income; publishes Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index, and conducts national surveys.
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March 2026
The Namibian
Namibia Statistics Agencyconducteda baseline study on informal settlements
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“ACCORDING TO A baseline study on informal settlements conducted by the Namibia Statistics Agency, chief executive Alex Shimuafeni reports that more than 200 000 Namibians currently reside in the country's 419 informal settlements.”
Namibia Statistics Agencypresentedthe Informal Settlements Baseline Report at a launch event in Swakopmund
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“Delivering the statistical overview, Statistician General and CEO of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) Alex Shimuafeni said 563 settlements across 57 local authorities were assessed as part of the study.”
Namibia Statistics Agencyreported50.5% of households in two Kavango regions did not have toilets
Source
“According to statistics provided by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), last year, 50.5% of households in the two Kavango regions did not have toilets.”
Namibia Statistics Agencyreported thatNamibia imported about N$1.6 billion worth of petroleum products in December
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“Data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) shows that Namibia imported about N$1.6 billion (about US$92 million) worth of petroleum products, largely from Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in December.”
Namibia Statistics Agencycollaborated with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to compilethe Namibia Informal Settlements Baseline Report
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“The report, compiled by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in collaboration with the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), highlights the growing scale of urban informality and mounting pressure on local authorities to provide basic services and secure land tenure.”
Namibia Statistics Agencyconducted2023 Population and Housing Census
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“According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), the Erongo region has a population of about 240 000 and continues to experience increased rural-urban migration.”
Namibians have yet to experience a significant impact on basic food prices from the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, despite predictions of rapid food-price rises. Retail data from January to April shows maize meal prices decreased, sunflower cooking oil rose notably, and other staple items recorded mixed results.
Why it matters
Namibian food prices show mixed trend despite Iran–Israel–US conflict, with maize meal prices falling and cooking oil rising as of April.
Namibians have yet to experience a significant impact on basic food prices from the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, despite predictions of rapid food-price rises. Retail data from January to April shows maize meal prices decreased, sunflower cooking oil rose notably, and other staple items recorded mixed results.
Namibia's Producer Price Index fell 1.7% in the first quarter of 2026, driven mainly by lower prices in mining and quarrying—particularly salt, diamonds, and uranium—though the index grew 2.7% annually over the same period.
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's housing crisis, driven by rapid urbanisation and slow delivery of affordable serviced land, requires efficient land administration systems built on fit-for-purpose methodologies that prioritise tenure security to enable investment and economic growth.
Namibia's Statistics Agency and Angola's National Statistics Institute have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve cooperation in statistics, governance and public policy planning, covering areas including macroeconomic data, labour statistics, censuses, digital transformation and data science.
Namibia's annual inflation rate slowed to 3.1% in April 2026, though transport and fuel costs remain under pressure. Consumers in northern regions (zone 1) paid the highest diesel price at N$24.31 per litre, while Khomas residents (zone 2) paid the lowest at N$24.12.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency's April 2026 Consumer Price Index, annual inflation stood at 3.1%, down from 3.6% a year earlier, but households face sharply rising prices for electricity, gas, rental payments, and transport. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels—which comprise 28.4% of the consumer basket—recorded 4.4% inflation, with electricity prices jumping from 1.5% to 4.0% annually.
Namibia's annual inflation rate stood at 3.1% in April, down from 3.6% in the same month last year, while monthly inflation rose to 1.1%. Consumers across the country's three zones experienced significant price differences for basic food items including flour, meat, and other staples.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi has called on French businesses to invest in Namibia, promoting the country as a stable destination with opportunities in oil and gas, technology, tourism and creative industries. The engagement forms part of government efforts to attract foreign direct investment to address unemployment, especially among young people.
Walvis Bay handled exports worth N$6.9 billion in March, maintaining its position as Namibia's leading export gateway, with sea transport accounting for 54% of total export value, mainly uranium and nickel ores.
Namibia imported commercial vehicles worth N$979 million in March, predominantly from South Africa, India and China, while re-exporting N$48 million worth mainly to Zambia, according to NSA trade statistics. The country recorded a trade deficit of N$2.3 billion in March, an improvement from the previous month's N$5.2 billion deficit.
Namibia recorded exports of N$13.2 billion and imports of N$15.5 billion in March 2026, resulting in a trade deficit of N$2.3 billion—an improvement from the N$5.2 billion deficit in February. China was the largest export market and South Africa the main source of imports, with mining commodities (uranium, gold, nickel ores, diamonds) dominating exports alongside fish, while re-exports increased significantly.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Namibia has called for stronger coordination and expanded support for small businesses to help Namibia achieve its target of creating 500,000 jobs. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, youth unemployment stood at around 44% in 2023.
Israel Tjizake has been appointed as the new deputy statistician general of the Namibia Statistics Agency from 1 May, bringing over 25 years' experience in official statistics, data management, and institutional leadership. He will oversee the agency's core statistical operations and drive initiatives including modernisation of statistical systems and evidence-based decision-making.
The Namibia Statistics Agency has appointed Israel Tjizake as deputy statistician general effective 1 May 2026, replacing Ottilie Mwazi. Tjizake brings more than 25 years of experience in development practice, statistics, data management and institutional leadership from work in government, the United Nations and academia.
Many young Namibians remain unaware or unconcerned about international events that directly or indirectly affect their lives, from global economic shifts to climate change and political conflicts. This disengagement, rooted in lack of exposure and social media's prioritization of entertainment, leaves them disconnected from issues that influence fuel prices, food costs, job opportunities, and inflation at home.
The Namibian publishes an opinion piece questioning whether Namibia's national conversation on jobs is aligned with its goal to create 500,000 jobs, given youth unemployment around 44% in 2023 and policies like expanded free tertiary education that will increase labour market entrants.
The Namibia Statistics Agency spent close to N$130 million on the data collection phase of the 2025/26 Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey, which covered 12 months of field operations across Namibia's 14 regions and concluded on 22 April. The survey covered a representative sample of 11,016 households and will produce key development indicators to support economic and policy analysis, with the final report expected by end of March 2027.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for open dialogue in Namibia's fishing industry as unions warn the sector is in crisis, with workers facing job insecurity, poor conditions, and limited benefits. The three-day consultation at Walvis Bay includes presentations from unions and employers, with government officials to discuss fish stocks, employment practices, and quota allocation reforms.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah commissioned a new National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism, with Namibia tasked to spearhead efforts tackling youth unemployment across Africa. The country's approach involves youth development funding, apprenticeships and education support, though Namibia itself faces a youth unemployment rate of around 44.4% according to census-based figures.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced expanded government programmes to address youth unemployment through training, skills development, and funding. The initiatives include mushroom cultivation and biomass training, the Youth Credit Scheme, and the Youth Development Fund, which has approved 211 projects worth N$63.1 million with potential to create 898 jobs.
The Khomas region registered 3.2% annual inflation for March, above the national rate of 2.1%, with housing and utilities driving inflation most significantly. Food prices fell sharply compared to the prior year, while transport costs declined, according to data from the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Annual inflation in Namibia slowed to 2.1% in March 2026, down from 4.2% a year earlier, driven largely by lower transport costs, though housing and food remain significant cost pressures. Inflation varies by region, with Khomas recording the highest rate at 3.2% while northern zones recorded 1.0%.
Namibia's economy has grown by N$80 billion over five years and tax revenue has risen from N$55 billion to N$76 billion, but the government faces competing budget pressures and slow job creation. The economy remains heavily dependent on mining and primary sectors that generate high export earnings but few jobs, prompting calls for economic diversification and value-added mineral processing.
Rapid population growth and proliferation of informal backyard housing in Walvis Bay have driven electricity consumption to record levels, with the suburb of Kuisebmond alone consuming 54% of Swakopmund's total power use. The municipality faces increasing pressure to provide affordable housing and land, with approximately 23 000 backyard shacks housing 42 000 people and thousands more on waiting lists.
According to UN Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo, while Namibia has launched numerous job creation initiatives and aims to create 500,000 jobs, fragmented efforts without shared tracking and coordination are failing to deliver impact at scale. Phororo argues that the country must shift from launching new programmes to aligning existing ones with clear accountability for results, particularly in supporting small enterprises to grow and survive beyond their early years.
The Namibia Statistics Agency has highlighted gaps in how official data is being used in decision-making, particularly in Kavango West, where a local councillor questioned whether government spending on data collection yields actionable results. The NSA spokesperson stressed the need to translate census statistics into concrete planning, citing pressures from a youthful population (76% under 35), urbanisation, and migration patterns that require targeted public service provision.
Employees in Namibia's fishing industry protested the government's planned auction of 6 232 metric tonnes of hake quota, saying the system worsens working conditions and job insecurity. Workers called for quotas to be allocated directly to companies needing production support rather than sold to the highest bidder.
The secretary general of Nudo Youth League urged the government to allocate sufficient funding to the National Youth Council and reform Affirmative Action legislation to help graduates enter the job market, citing Namibia's youth unemployment rate of 44.4% as a serious concern requiring effective policies on job creation.
Namibia imported nearly N$140 million in fish in the fourth quarter of 2025—a 40% increase from the previous year—driven by declining fishing quotas allocated to local companies, forcing processors to source raw material from South Africa and Spain to maintain operations and employment.
Namibia's grain production jumped 375.9% in late 2025 to 22,643 tonnes, driven primarily by a robust wheat harvest that grew 1,057.6%, while the agronomy import bill fell from N$863 million to N$488 million year-on-year.