THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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.

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 824,292 sq km
land: 823,290 sq km
water: 1,002 sq km
Area - comparative: almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 4,220 km
border countries: Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation: highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,141 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
Land use: agricultural land: 47.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 9.8% (2023 est.)
other: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 kmnote: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Geography - note: the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

Population: total: 2,852,777 (2025 est.)
male: 1,402,136
female: 1,450,641
Nationality: noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
Ethnic 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: Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4%, Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
Religions: Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.1% (male 482,790/female 473,306)
15-64 years: 62% (male 846,810/female 890,099)
65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,686/female 62,969)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 54 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 15.5 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 23.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 22.1 years
female: 23.5 years
Population growth rate: 1.76% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 23.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.6 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 139 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 64.2 years
female: 67.6 years
Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.4 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 96.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 73.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 70.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 49% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 51% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 11.8% (2025 est.)
male: 20.5% (2025 est.)
female: 3.9% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 33.7% (2018 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 9.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 24.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy: total population: 87.6% (2023 est.)
male: 87.9% (2023 est.)
female: 87.4% (2023 est.)

Environmental issues: depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity; wildlife poaching
International environmental agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Land use: agricultural land: 47.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 9.8% (2023 est.)
other: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 3.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 2.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 193.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 13.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 256,700 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 61.568 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 18.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 201 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
local long form: Republic of Namibia
local short form: Namibia
former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa
etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the word namib comes from the local Nama language and means "an area where there is nothing"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is an Afrikaans word meaning "windy corner;" a local Khoikhoin chief first used the name in the 19th century and may have derived it from the name of his childhood South African village of Winterhoek
Administrative divisions: 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi
Legal system: mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
Constitution: history: adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990
amendment process: passage requires majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
head of government: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
most recent election date: 27 November 2024
election results: 2024: Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (SWAPO) 57%, Panduleni ITULA (IPC) 26%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.10%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 4.72%, Job AMUPANDA (AR) 1.80%, Hendrik GAOBEAB (UDF) 1.16%; other 3.31%2019: Hage GEINGOB reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, other .9%
expected date of next election: November 2029
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: National Assembly
number of seats: 104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024
parties elected and seats per party: SWAPO Party (51); Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) (20); Affirmative Repositioning (AR) (6); Landless People's Movement (LPM) (5); Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) (5); Other (9)
percentage of women in chamber: 42.3%
expected date of next election: November 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: National Council
number of seats: 42 (all indirectly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 12/15/2020
percentage of women in chamber: 14.3%
expected date of next election: December 2025
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70
subordinate courts: High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
Political parties: All People's Party or APP Christian Democratic Voice or CDV Landless People's Movement or LPM National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance or DTA) Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Republican Party or RPSouth West Africa National Union or SWANU South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO United Democratic Front or UDF United People's Movement or UPM
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025)
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
email address and website: info@namibiaembassyusa.orghttps://namibiaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025)
embassy: 38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek
mailing address: 2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540
telephone: [264] (61) 202-5000
FAX: [264] (61) 202-5219
email address and website: ConsularWindhoek@state.govhttps://na.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Flag: description: a wide red stripe edged with narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower-left corner to upper-right corner; the upper triangle is blue and has a golden-yellow, 12-ray sunburst, and the lower triangle is greenmeaning: red stands for the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue stands for the sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the sun for power and existence, and green for vegetation and agricultural resources
National symbol(s): oryx (antelope)
National color(s): blue, red, green, white, yellow
National anthem(s): title: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
history: adopted 1991
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n)

Economic overview: 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $31.154 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $30.039 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $28.761 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $10,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $13.372 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.3% (2024 est.)
industry: 28.9% (2024 est.)
services: 54.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 79.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 21.5% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.9% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 41.6% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -68% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: root vegetables, milk, maize, beef, grapes, onions, wheat, fruits, pulses, vegetables (2023)
Industries: mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.131 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 19.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 19.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 19.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 37.3% (2024 est.)
male: 36.7% (2024 est.)
female: 38% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.4% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 59.1 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1% (2015 est.)
highest 10%: 47.2% (2015 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $4.415 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $4.779 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2019: 4.64% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 33% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$2.055 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$1.893 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$1.605 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $5.887 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $5.729 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $5.361 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: South Africa 27%, China 12%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7%, France 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $9.199 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $8.443 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $7.43 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 36%, China 9%, India 7%, UAE 4%, USA 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.356 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.956 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.803 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 18.329 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 18.446 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 16.356 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 14.779 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 16.463 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 56.2% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 74.8%
electrification - rural areas: 33.2%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 646,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 169 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 747.409 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 26,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas: proven reserves: 62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 81,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2.58 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 85 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available
Internet country code: .na
Internet users: percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 104,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V5
Airports: 259 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways: total: 2,628 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine: total: 15 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, other 14
Ports: total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 2
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay

Military and security forces: Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Namibian Army, Namibian Navy, Namibian Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 12,000 active Namibian Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the NDF's inventory consists mostly of Soviet-era weapons and equipment; over the past decade, it has received a limited number of newer weapons systems from China and South Africa; Namibia has a small defense industry that produces items such as armored personnel carriers (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: the NDF’s primary responsibility is defending Namibia's territorial integrity and national interests; other responsibilities include support to civil authorities and participating in peace and stability missions under the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and the UN; Namibia has bilateral defense ties with several countries, including Botswana, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambiathe NDF was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); the PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 6,575 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 1,399 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 14,796 (2024 est.)

Namibia