World Factbook
Namibia
Republic of Namibia
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
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 green meaning: 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
Capital
name
Windhoek
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
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
22 34 S, 17 05 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
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
Country name
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"
local long form
Republic of Namibia
local short form
Namibia
conventional long form
Republic of Namibia
conventional short form
Namibia
Independence
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Legal system
mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
subordinate courts
High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
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
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
chief of state
President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
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%
head of government
President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
most recent election date
27 November 2024
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)
expected date of next election
November 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
National color(s)
blue, red, green, white, yellow
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)
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 RP South 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
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Namibia, Land of the Brave"
history
adopted 1991
lyrics/music
Axali DOESEB
National symbol(s)
oryx (antelope)
Administrative divisions
14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi
note: the Karas region was renamed //Karas in 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
42.3%
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)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
note
note: the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly
chamber name
National Council
term in office
5 years
number of seats
42 (all indirectly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
most recent election date
12/15/2020
expected date of next election
December 2025
percentage of women in chamber
14.3%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 986-0443
chancery
1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 986-0540
chief of mission
Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025)
email address and website
info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[264] (61) 202-5219
embassy
38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek
telephone
[264] (61) 202-5000
mailing address
2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540
chief of mission
Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025)
email address and website
ConsularWindhoek@state.gov https://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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction