https://www.humantruth.info/namibia.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
Namibia Republic of Namibia | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 124th best |
Capital | Windhoek |
Land Area | 823 290km21 |
Location | Africa |
Population | 2.4m2 |
Life Expectancy | 59.27yrs (2017)3 |
GNI | $8 634 (2017)4 |
ISO3166-1 Codes | NA, NAM, 5165 |
Internet Domain | .na6 |
Currency | Dollar (NAD)7 |
Telephone | +2648 |
“South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa 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 has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9
“Namibia posesses some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa, and a trip through the country is one of the great road adventures. Natural wonders such as that mighty gash in the earth at Fish River Canyon and the wildlife utopia of Etosha National Park enthral, but it´s the lonely desert roads, where mighty slabs of granite rise out of swirling desert sands, that will sear themselves in your mind. It´s like a coffee-table book come to life as sand dunes in the world´s oldest desert meet the crashing rollers along the wild Atlantic coast. Among all this is a German legacy, evident in the cuisine and art nouveau architecture of Lüderitz or Swakopmund and in festivals such as Windhoek´s legendary Oktoberfest.
Namibia is also the headquarters of adventure activities in the region, so whether you´re a dreamer or love hearing the crunch of earth under your boots, travel in Namibia will stay with you long after the desert vistas fade.”
#economics #human_development #namibia #wealth
UN HDI (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better Value11 | |
1 | Switzerland | 0.962 |
2 | Norway | 0.961 |
3 | Iceland | 0.959 |
... | ||
136 | Kiribati | 0.624 |
137 | Honduras | 0.621 |
138 | Sao Tome & Principe | 0.618 |
139 | Namibia | 0.615 |
140= | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | 0.607 |
140= | Laos | 0.607 |
140= | Vanuatu | 0.607 |
143 | Nepal | 0.602 |
Africa Avg | 0.56 | |
World Avg | 0.72 | |
q=191. |
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better PPP $11 | |
1 | Liechtenstein | $146 830 |
2 | Singapore | $90 919 |
3 | Qatar | $87 134 |
... | ||
114 | Philippines | $8 920 |
115 | Jamaica | $8 834 |
116 | Guatemala | $8 723 |
117 | Namibia | $8 634 |
118 | El Salvador | $8 296 |
119 | Bolivia | $8 111 |
120 | Uzbekistan | $7 917 |
121 | Cuba | $7 879 |
Africa Avg | $5 339 | |
World Avg | $20 136 | |
q=193. |
Social & Moral Development Index12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank12 | |
1 | Denmark | 27.0 |
2 | Norway | 29.9 |
3 | Sweden | 31.8 |
... | ||
121 | Algeria | 98.2 |
122 | Senegal | 98.5 |
123 | Tonga | 98.7 |
124 | Namibia | 99.3 |
125 | Oman | 99.4 |
126 | Iran | 100.3 |
127 | Egypt | 100.3 |
128 | Bangladesh | 100.6 |
Africa Avg | 119.0 | |
World Avg | 88.6 | |
q=199. |
The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..
The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.
Progress in Namibia is always going to be difficult whilst the richest 10% hold 47% of the country's entire income13.#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen
Population:
Namibia's population is predicted to rise to 3.042 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.25. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.14Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
1 | China | 1.4b |
2 | India | 1.4b |
3 | USA | 327.1m |
... | ||
138 | Albania | 2.9m |
139 | Lithuania | 2.8m |
140 | Qatar | 2.8m |
141 | Namibia | 2.4m |
142 | Gambia | 2.3m |
143 | Botswana | 2.3m |
144 | Gabon | 2.1m |
145 | Lesotho | 2.1m |
World Avg | 39.0m | |
q=195. |
Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
180 | Guinea-Bissau | 59.7 |
181 | Mozambique | 59.3 |
182 | Burkina Faso | 59.3 |
183 | Namibia | 59.3 |
184 | Zimbabwe | 59.3 |
185 | Congo, DR | 59.2 |
186 | Mali | 58.9 |
187 | Guinea | 58.9 |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202215 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
154 | Papua New Guinea | 3.17 |
155 | Tonga | 3.19 |
156 | S. Korea | 0.78 |
157 | Namibia | 3.25 |
158 | Kiribati | 3.27 |
159 | Kenya | 3.30 |
160 | Hong Kong | 0.70 |
161 | Uzbekistan | 3.31 |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per 10016 | |
1 | Uganda | 04.3 |
2 | Mali | 04.5 |
3= | Chad | 04.7 |
... | ||
46 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 07.0 |
47= | Solomon Islands | 07.0 |
47= | Rwanda | 07.0 |
49 | Namibia | 07.4 |
50= | Botswana | 07.7 |
50= | UAE | 07.7 |
52 | Oman | 07.8 |
53 | Jordan | 08.0 |
World Avg | 18.3 | |
q=185. |
Migration:
Immigrants17 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 %17 | |
1 | UAE | 88.4% |
2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
... | ||
92 | Uganda | 3.9% |
93 | Dominican Rep. | 3.9% |
94 | Mauritania | 3.8% |
95 | Namibia | 3.8% |
96 | Burkina Faso | 3.7% |
97 | Trinidad & Tobago | 3.7% |
98 | Togo | 3.6% |
99 | Uzbekistan | 3.6% |
World Avg | 9.4% | |
q=195. |
Emigrants18 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2010 %18 | |
1 | Dominica | 104.8% |
2 | Palestine | 68.4% |
3 | Samoa | 67.3% |
... | ||
177 | India | 0.9% |
178 | Papua New Guinea | 0.9% |
179 | USA | 0.8% |
180 | Namibia | 0.7% |
181 | Ethiopia | 0.7% |
182 | Tanzania | 0.7% |
183 | Brazil | 0.7% |
184 | Saudi Arabia | 0.7% |
World Avg | 11.5% | |
q=192. |
#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #namibia #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women
Compared to Africa (2025)19 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank19 | |
1 | Mauritius | 63.7 |
2 | S. Africa | 64.3 |
3 | Cape Verde | 68.0 |
4 | Seychelles | 73.8 |
5 | Namibia | 77.7 |
6 | Senegal | 84.7 |
7 | Botswana | 86.8 |
8 | Ghana | 92.3 |
9 | Tunisia | 95.2 |
10 | Lesotho | 100.4 |
11 | Sao Tome & Principe | 101.2 |
12 | Burkina Faso | 101.3 |
13 | Mali | 101.6 |
Africa Avg | 110.04 | |
q=54. |
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank19 | |
1 | Sweden | 6.1 |
2 | Denmark | 8.6 |
3 | Norway | 9.0 |
... | ||
77 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 76.0 |
78 | Georgia | 76.4 |
79 | Tuvalu | 76.7 |
80 | Namibia | 77.7 |
81 | Dominican Rep. | 78.0 |
82 | Micronesia | 78.2 |
83 | Armenia | 78.5 |
84 | St Kitts & Nevis | 79.1 |
World Avg | 86.55 | |
q=199. |
The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway20. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan20.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe20, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia20.
For more, see:
Human Rights & Tolerance:
Press Freedom Higher is better21 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202521 | |
1 | Norway | 92.31 |
2 | Estonia | 89.46 |
3 | Netherlands | 88.64 |
... | ||
25 | France | 76.62 |
26 | Jamaica | 75.83 |
27 | S. Africa | 75.71 |
28 | Namibia | 75.35 |
29 | Australia | 75.15 |
30 | Cape Verde | 74.98 |
31 | Poland | 74.79 |
32 | Suriname | 74.49 |
Africa Avg | 52.30 | |
World Avg | 54.65 | |
q=179. |
Slavery Lower is better22 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 % Victims22 | |
1 | Japan | 0.03 |
2= | Canada | 0.05 |
2= | Taiwan | 0.05 |
... | ||
63 | Senegal | 0.29 |
64 | Trinidad & Tobago | 0.30 |
65 | Yemen | 0.31 |
66= | Namibia | 0.33 |
66= | Serbia | 0.33 |
68 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0.34 |
69= | Botswana | 0.34 |
69= | Honduras | 0.34 |
Africa Avg | 0.96 | |
World Avg | 0.65 | |
q=167. |
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better23 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2014 Rank23 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1 |
2 | Switzerland | 2 |
3 | New Zealand | 3 |
... | ||
67 | Serbia | 67 |
68 | Guatemala | 68 |
69= | Moldova | 69 |
69= | Namibia | 69 |
71 | Bolivia | 71 |
72 | Indonesia | 72 |
73 | Turkey | 73 |
74= | S. Africa | 74 |
Africa Avg | 114.2 | |
World Avg | 79.7 | |
q=159. |
Freedom in the World Lower is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2024 Score | |
1= | Norway | 1.0 |
1= | Canada | 1.0 |
1= | Cape Verde | 1.0 |
... | ||
80 | Colombia | 2.5 |
81= | Nauru | 2.5 |
81= | Lesotho | 2.5 |
81= | Namibia | 2.5 |
81= | Brazil | 2.5 |
81= | Bhutan | 2.5 |
86 | Liberia | 3.0 |
87= | Peru | 3.0 |
Africa Avg | 4.8 | |
World Avg | 3.7 | |
q=205. |
Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better24 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2009 Treaties24 | |
1 | Argentina | 24 |
2= | Chile | 23 |
2= | Costa Rica | 23 |
... | ||
31 | Georgia | 20 |
32= | Albania | 20 |
32= | Cyprus | 20 |
32= | Namibia | 20 |
32= | Ukraine | 20 |
32= | Macedonia | 20 |
32= | Slovakia | 20 |
32= | Honduras | 20 |
Africa Avg | 14.8 | |
World Avg | 15.1 | |
q=194. |
HR Treaties Lag Lower is better25 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty25 | |
1 | Ecuador | 2.15 |
2 | Uruguay | 2.25 |
3 | Tunisia | 3.65 |
... | ||
9 | Bulgaria | 4.24 |
10 | Panama | 4.26 |
11 | Senegal | 4.32 |
12 | Namibia | 4.36 |
13 | Egypt | 4.52 |
14 | Spain | 4.60 |
15 | Peru | 4.64 |
16 | Sweden | 4.88 |
Africa Avg | 9.88 | |
World Avg | 10.02 | |
q=195. |
Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Namibia stated:
“Police continued to use excessive force against protesters. A cybercrime bill threatened to curtail the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly and privacy. Early marriage persisted. Survey results showed that most Nambians believe gender-based violence is common in their communities. Parliament held public consultations on petitions to decriminalize abortion. LGBTI people’s rights were curtailed. Mining companies’ activities threatened to damage the environment and undermine the rights of Indigenous peoples.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)26
Gender Equality:
Namibia is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.
See:
Gender Inequality Lower is better27 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202227 | |
1 | Denmark | 0.01 |
2 | Norway | 0.01 |
3 | Switzerland | 0.02 |
... | ||
109 | Morocco | 0.44 |
110 | Indonesia | 0.44 |
111 | India | 0.45 |
112 | Namibia | 0.45 |
113 | Jordan | 0.45 |
114 | Belize | 0.46 |
115 | Laos | 0.46 |
116 | Myanmar (Burma) | 0.48 |
Africa Avg | 0.53 | |
World Avg | 0.34 | |
q=166. |
Year Women Can Vote Lower is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Year | |
1 | New Zealand | 1893 |
2 | Australia | 1902 |
3 | Finland | 1906 |
... | ||
178 | Liechtenstein | 1984 |
179= | Djibouti | 1986 |
179= | Central African Rep. | 1986 |
181 | Namibia | 1989 |
182 | Samoa | 1990 |
183 | Kazakhstan | 1993 |
184= | Moldova | 1994 |
184= | Oman | 1994 |
Africa Avg | 1961 | |
World Avg | 1930 | |
q=189. |
Prejudice:
LGBT Equality Higher is better28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Score28 | |
1 | Netherlands | 103 |
2 | Belgium | 90 |
3 | Sweden | 86 |
... | ||
124 | Sierra Leone | -3 |
125= | Grenada | -5 |
125= | Dominica | -5 |
125= | Namibia | -5 |
125= | Kiribati | -5 |
125= | Jamaica | -5 |
125= | Cook Islands | -5 |
125= | Guyana | -5 |
Africa Avg | -10.4 | |
World Avg | 12.6 | |
q=196. |
Freedom of Thought Lower is better29 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202129 | |
1= | Belgium | 1.0 |
1= | Taiwan | 1.0 |
1= | Netherlands | 1.0 |
... | ||
14 | Mongolia | 1.7 |
15= | S. Africa | 1.7 |
16 | St Kitts & Nevis | 1.8 |
17= | Namibia | 1.8 |
17= | Mozambique | 1.8 |
17= | Micronesia | 1.8 |
17= | USA | 1.8 |
17= | Slovenia | 1.8 |
Africa Avg | 3.1 | |
World Avg | 3.0 | |
q=196. |
#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #namibia #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines
Compared to Africa (2025)30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank30 | |
1 | Tunisia | 69.2 |
2 | Mauritius | 69.2 |
3 | Seychelles | 84.8 |
... | ||
16 | Ghana | 135.9 |
17 | Mauritania | 140.8 |
18 | Comoros | 141.5 |
19 | Namibia | 141.7 |
20 | Gambia | 141.9 |
21 | Gabon | 142.7 |
22 | Senegal | 144.7 |
23 | Sudan | 144.7 |
24 | Swaziland | 145.2 |
Africa Avg | 111.13 | |
q=54. |
Health (2025)30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank30 | |
1 | Monaco | 14.3 |
2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
3 | Isle of Man | 32.1 |
... | ||
171 | Iraq | 139.7 |
172 | Mauritania | 140.8 |
173 | Comoros | 141.5 |
174 | Namibia | 141.7 |
175 | Gambia | 141.9 |
176 | Gabon | 142.7 |
177 | Senegal | 144.7 |
178 | Sudan | 144.7 |
World Avg | 96.74 | |
q=212. |
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria31.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans31, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia31.
For more, see:
Health:
Namibia is a pretty unhealthy country. Namibia does worse than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance32 (still good for Africa), its smoking rate33, its immunizations take-up34, its adolescent birth rate35 (still low for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate36 and in its fertility rate15 (still good for Africa). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its average life expectancy11. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Namibia was static between 1990 and 2019, whereas almost all of the rest of the world improved. Namibia's peak fertility rate was 6.56 in 1974.Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
180 | Guinea-Bissau | 59.7 |
181 | Mozambique | 59.3 |
182 | Burkina Faso | 59.3 |
183 | Namibia | 59.3 |
184 | Zimbabwe | 59.3 |
185 | Congo, DR | 59.2 |
186 | Mali | 58.9 |
187 | Guinea | 58.9 |
Africa Avg | 62.79 | |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Alcohol Consumption Lower is better36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per Capita36 | |
1 | Bangladesh | 0.0 |
2 | Kuwait | 0.0 |
3 | Libya | 0.0 |
... | ||
144 | Barbados | 9.6 |
145= | Argentina | 9.8 |
145= | Georgia | 9.8 |
145= | Namibia | 9.8 |
145= | USA | 9.8 |
149 | St Lucia | 9.9 |
150= | Swaziland | 9.9 |
151 | Spain | 10.0 |
Africa Avg | 4.8 | |
World Avg | 6.2 | |
q=189. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202215 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
154 | Papua New Guinea | 3.17 |
155 | Tonga | 3.19 |
156 | S. Korea | 0.78 |
157 | Namibia | 3.25 |
158 | Kiribati | 3.27 |
159 | Kenya | 3.30 |
160 | Hong Kong | 0.70 |
161 | Uzbekistan | 3.31 |
Africa Avg | 3.97 | |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Smoking Rates Lower is better33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201433 | |
1 | Guinea | 15 |
2 | Solomon Islands | 26 |
3 | Kiribati | 28 |
... | ||
105 | Kyrgyzstan | 68337 |
106 | Qatar | 698 |
107 | UAE | 715 |
108 | Namibia | 740 |
109 | Papua New Guinea | 826 |
110 | UK | 827 |
111 | Sweden | 831 |
112 | Laos | 836 |
Africa Avg | 340 | |
World Avg | 819 | |
q=182. |
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank32 | |
1 | Sweden | 1 |
2 | Ireland | 2 |
3 | Denmark | 3 |
... | ||
93 | Bahrain | 93 |
94 | Philippines | 94 |
95 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 95 |
96 | Namibia | 96 |
97 | Guyana | 97 |
98 | Colombia | 98 |
99 | Vietnam | 99 |
100 | Lesotho | 100 |
Africa Avg | 117.0 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Overweight Adults Lower is better38 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 %38 | |
1 | Vietnam | 18.3 |
2 | India | 19.7 |
3 | Bangladesh | 20.0 |
... | ||
64 | Djibouti | 38.6 |
65 | Lesotho | 38.7 |
66 | Gabon | 40.2 |
67 | Namibia | 40.6 |
68 | Brunei | 41.2 |
69 | Malaysia | 42.5 |
70 | Botswana | 43.4 |
71 | Tajikistan | 45.3 |
Africa Avg | 33.3 | |
World Avg | 49.0 | |
q=191. |
Children's Health:
Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better35 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Per 100035 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1.6 |
2 | Denmark | 1.8 |
3 | S. Korea | 2.1 |
... | ||
141 | Ecuador | 62.1 |
142 | Kenya | 62.6 |
143 | Bolivia | 63.1 |
144 | Namibia | 63.1 |
145 | Guatemala | 63.2 |
146 | Vanuatu | 63.2 |
147 | Dominican Rep. | 63.2 |
148 | Nepal | 63.4 |
Africa Avg | 84.6 | |
World Avg | 43.8 | |
q=195. |
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Avg %34 | |
1= | Hungary | 99.0 |
1= | China | 99.0 |
3 | Uzbekistan | 98.9 |
... | ||
135 | Suriname | 87.2 |
136 | Ecuador | 86.8 |
137 | Cambodia | 86.5 |
138 | Namibia | 86.5 |
139 | Dominican Rep. | 86.3 |
140 | Panama | 86.1 |
141 | Belarus | 85.3 |
142= | Canada | 85.2 |
Africa Avg | 81.7 | |
World Avg | 88.3 | |
q=194. |
#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #namibia #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism
Compared to Africa (2025)39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank39 | |
1 | Morocco | 46.5 |
2 | Burundi | 47.8 |
3 | Mali | 51.0 |
... | ||
32 | Algeria | 79.7 |
33 | Sierra Leone | 83.6 |
34 | Guinea-Bissau | 83.7 |
35 | Namibia | 83.9 |
36 | Central African Rep. | 84.2 |
37 | Djibouti | 84.5 |
38 | Zambia | 85.4 |
39 | Gabon | 87.9 |
40 | Equatorial Guinea | 91.2 |
Africa Avg | 80.07 | |
q=53. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank39 | |
1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
2 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
3 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
... | ||
100 | Georgia | 83.6 |
101 | Sierra Leone | 83.6 |
102 | Guinea-Bissau | 83.7 |
103 | Namibia | 83.9 |
104 | S. Korea | 84.0 |
105 | Cambodia | 84.0 |
106 | Central African Rep. | 84.2 |
107 | Djibouti | 84.5 |
World Avg | 84.93 | |
q=199. |
All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.
The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.
For more, see:
With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Namibia is 103rd in the world. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. Namibia does better than average when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person40 (but bad for Africa) and in its environmental performance41. But that's it. Namibia has problems. It does worse than average when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population42, energy to GDP efficiency43 and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for its forested percent change 2000-202044.Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better44 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total44 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
214 | Oman | -16.7% |
215 | Guatemala | -16.8% |
216 | Pakistan | -18.2% |
217 | Namibia | -18.5% |
218 | Myanmar (Burma) | -19.0% |
219 | Niger | -19.7% |
220 | Egypt | -20.6% |
221 | Somalia | -21.6% |
Africa Avg | -8.7% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
From 2010 to 2020, Namibia destroyed 10% of its forest cover, falling from 7349 thousand hectares to 6639.
Environmental Performance Higher is better41 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201841 | |
1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
2 | France | 84.0 |
3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
... | ||
76 | Antigua & Barbuda | 59.2 |
77 | UAE | 58.9 |
78 | Jamaica | 58.6 |
79 | Namibia | 58.5 |
80 | Iran | 58.2 |
81 | Belize | 57.8 |
82 | Philippines | 57.7 |
83 | Mongolia | 57.5 |
Africa Avg | 46.4 | |
World Avg | 56.4 | |
q=180. |
Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better43 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Avg43 | |
1 | Rwanda | 0.25 |
2 | Chad | 0.26 |
3 | Tanzania | 0.31 |
... | ||
82 | Austria | 1.04 |
83 | Japan | 1.05 |
84 | Benin | 1.06 |
85 | Namibia | 1.07 |
86 | Cambodia | 1.07 |
87 | Albania | 1.08 |
88 | Jordan | 1.10 |
89 | Mexico | 1.10 |
Africa Avg | 0.83 | |
World Avg | 1.23 | |
q=165. |
International Accords on the Environment Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Avg Rate | |
1 | Sweden | 83% |
2 | Canada | 82% |
3 | Norway | 81% |
... | ||
120 | Ethiopia | 55% |
121 | Ivory Coast | 55% |
122 | Syria | 54% |
123 | Namibia | 54% |
124 | Algeria | 54% |
125 | Dominican Rep. | 54% |
126 | Tajikistan | 54% |
127 | St Kitts & Nevis | 54% |
Africa Avg | 56.4% | |
World Avg | 57.5% | |
q=197. |
Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better42 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2011 %42 | |
1 | Argentina | 78.3% |
2 | Greece | 77.6% |
3 | Brazil | 77.1% |
... | ||
75 | Mauritania | 38.0% |
76 | Croatia | 37.8% |
77 | Cambodia | 37.1% |
78 | Namibia | 36.6% |
79 | Germany | 36.1% |
80 | Montenegro | 35.9% |
81 | Rwanda | 35.8% |
82 | Romania | 33.4% |
Africa Avg | 38.3% | |
World Avg | 39.9% | |
q=145. |
Meat Consumption Lower is better40 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg40 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
68 | Lebanon | 36.3 |
69 | Paraguay | 36.4 |
70 | Azerbaijan | 37.1 |
71 | Namibia | 37.2 |
72 | Georgia | 37.8 |
73 | Cape Verde | 38.4 |
74 | Honduras | 38.8 |
75 | Kyrgyzstan | 39.0 |
Africa Avg | 24.9 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
q=185. |
#botswana #capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #education #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #modernity #morals #peace #politics #poverty #research #science #social_development #technology #the_internet
Compared to Africa (2020)45 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank45 | |
1 | S. Africa | 56.9 |
2 | Tunisia | 70.8 |
3= | Mauritius | 79.6 |
... | ||
14 | Nigeria | 111.1 |
15 | Zimbabwe | 111.6 |
16 | Cape Verde | 113.3 |
17 | Namibia | 113.4 |
18 | Cameroon | 114.2 |
19 | Swaziland | 115.9 |
20 | Zambia | 116.3 |
21 | Rwanda | 123.0 |
22 | Guinea-Bissau | 124.4 |
Africa Avg | 120.19 | |
q=53. |
Modernity & Learning (2020)45 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank45 | |
1 | Finland | 7.1 |
2 | Belgium | 12.9 |
3 | Denmark | 13.6 |
... | ||
127 | Marshall Islands | 111.1 |
128 | Zimbabwe | 111.6 |
129 | Cape Verde | 113.3 |
130 | Namibia | 113.4 |
131 | Turkmenistan | 114.0 |
132 | Cameroon | 114.2 |
133 | Swaziland | 115.9 |
134 | Pakistan | 116.1 |
World Avg | 86.31 | |
q=190. |
The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark46. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone46. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots47.
“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)48
15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe46, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia46.
For more, see:
Modernity and Education:
Research & Development Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 % RDP PPP | |
1 | S. Korea | 4.2949 |
2 | Israel | 4.1149 |
3 | Japan | 3.5849 |
... | ||
99= | Kyrgyzstan | 0.1650 |
99= | Sri Lanka | 0.1651 |
101 | Albania | 0.1552 |
102 | Namibia | 0.1451 |
103= | Georgia | 0.1353 |
103= | Gambia | 0.1350 |
105 | Tajikistan | 0.1254 |
106= | Burundi | 0.1250 |
Africa Avg | 0.36 | |
World Avg | 0.84 | |
q=126. |
Secondary Education Higher is better55 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201855 | |
1= | Luxembourg | 100.0% |
1= | Estonia | 100.0% |
1= | Austria | 100.0% |
... | ||
121 | Thailand | 44.8% |
122 | Zambia | 44.3% |
123 | El Salvador | 42.8% |
124 | Namibia | 41.1% |
125 | Syria | 41.0% |
126 | Sao Tome & Principe | 40.8% |
127 | Togo | 40.5% |
128 | Laos | 40.4% |
Africa Avg | 34.4% | |
World Avg | 63.0% | |
q=169. |
Length of Schooling Higher is better56 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years56 | |
1 | Australia | 21.1 |
2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
3 | Greece | 20.0 |
... | ||
136 | Iraq | 12.1 |
137 | Ghana | 12.0 |
138 | Lesotho | 12.0 |
139 | Namibia | 11.9 |
140 | Comoros | 11.9 |
141 | India | 11.9 |
142 | Kiribati | 11.8 |
143 | Nauru | 11.7 |
Africa Avg | 11.0 | |
World Avg | 13.5 | |
q=193. |
Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank32 | |
1 | Ukraine | 1 |
2 | Czechia | 2 |
3 | Hungary | 3 |
... | ||
63 | Ghana | 63 |
64 | Samoa | 64 |
65 | Jordan | 65 |
66 | Namibia | 66 |
67 | India | 67 |
68 | Lebanon | 68 |
69 | Senegal | 69 |
70 | China | 70 |
Africa Avg | 106.4 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
IQ Higher is better57 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 200657 | |
1= | Hong Kong | 108 |
1= | Singapore | 108 |
3 | S. Korea | 106 |
... | ||
109= | Zambia | 71 |
109= | Jamaica | 71 |
109= | Ghana | 71 |
112 | Namibia | 70 |
113= | Togo | 70 |
113= | Botswana | 70 |
113= | Rwanda | 70 |
113= | Benin | 70 |
Africa Avg | 70.6 | |
World Avg | 85.6 | |
q=138. |
Technology and Information:
Internet Users Higher is better58 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201658 | |
1 | Iceland | 100% |
2 | Faroe Islands | 99% |
3 | Norway | 98% |
... | ||
162= | S. Sudan | 17% |
163 | Gambia | 17% |
164 | Laos | 16% |
165 | Namibia | 16% |
166 | Turkmenistan | 15% |
167 | Bangladesh | 13% |
168 | Iraq | 13% |
169 | Kiribati | 13% |
Africa Avg | 18.4% | |
World Avg | 48.1% | |
q=201. |
IPv6 Uptake Higher is better59 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Ratio59 | |
1 | Belgium | 55.4 |
2 | Germany | 41.8 |
3 | Switzerland | 35.1 |
... | ||
127= | Algeria | 0.0 |
127= | Djibouti | 0.0 |
127= | Guyana | 0.0 |
127= | Namibia | 0.0 |
127= | Tonga | 0.0 |
127= | Myanmar (Burma) | 0.0 |
127= | Morocco | 0.0 |
127= | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | 0.0 |
Africa Avg | 0.04 | |
World Avg | 3.82 | |
q=176. |
Digital Quality of Life Higher is better60 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202460 | |
1 | Germany | 77.9% |
2 | Finland | 76.9% |
3 | France | 73.9% |
... | ||
99 | Benin | 32.8% |
100 | Nigeria | 32.7% |
101 | Iran | 32.5% |
102 | Namibia | 32.1% |
103 | Laos | 31.5% |
104 | Guatemala | 31.0% |
105 | Nepal | 30.3% |
106 | Venezuela | 30.1% |
Africa Avg | 32.3% | |
World Avg | 48.4% | |
q=121. |
National Culture:
World Giving Index Higher is better61 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 %61 | |
1 | Indonesia | 68.0 |
2 | Kenya | 61.0 |
3 | USA | 59.0 |
... | ||
89= | S. Africa | 35.0 |
89= | Ivory Coast | 35.0 |
89= | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 35.0 |
89= | Namibia | 35.0 |
93 | Togo | 34.0 |
94= | Mozambique | 34.0 |
94= | Albania | 34.0 |
94= | Montenegro | 34.0 |
Africa Avg | 38.2 | |
World Avg | 39.6 | |
q=125. |
Corruption Higher is better62 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points62 | |
1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
2= | Finland | 87.0 |
2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
... | ||
56 | Saudi Arabia | 51.0 |
57 | Croatia | 50.0 |
58= | Mauritius | 50.0 |
59 | Namibia | 49.0 |
60 | Vanuatu | 48.0 |
61= | Jordan | 47.0 |
61= | Malaysia | 47.0 |
63 | Armenia | 46.0 |
Africa Avg | 32.31 | |
World Avg | 42.98 | |
q=180. |
Happiness Higher is better63 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2024 Score63 | |
1 | Finland | 7.7 |
2 | Denmark | 7.5 |
3 | Iceland | 7.5 |
... | ||
100 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 5.0 |
101 | Iraq | 5.0 |
102 | Guinea | 4.9 |
103 | Namibia | 4.9 |
104 | Cameroon | 4.9 |
105 | Nigeria | 4.9 |
106 | Azerbaijan | 4.9 |
107 | Senegal | 4.9 |
Africa Avg | 4.42 | |
World Avg | 5.58 | |
q=147. |
Creativity & Culture Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank32 | |
1 | Belgium | 1 |
2 | Netherlands | 2 |
3 | Estonia | 3 |
... | ||
39 | Bulgaria | 39 |
40 | Marshall Islands | 40 |
41 | Malaysia | 41 |
42 | Namibia | 42 |
43 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 43 |
44 | Cyprus | 44 |
45 | Japan | 45 |
46 | Moldova | 46 |
Africa Avg | 117.8 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank32 | |
1 | Ireland | 1 |
2 | Denmark | 2 |
3 | Sweden | 3 |
... | ||
133 | Indonesia | 133 |
134 | Egypt | 134 |
135 | Uruguay | 135 |
136 | Namibia | 136 |
137 | Yemen | 137 |
138 | Cambodia | 138 |
139 | Antigua & Barbuda | 139 |
140 | Afghanistan | 140 |
Africa Avg | 96.7 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Peace Versus Instability:
Global Peace Index Lower is better64 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score64 | |
1 | Iceland | 1.12 |
2 | Denmark | 1.31 |
3 | Ireland | 1.31 |
... | ||
53 | Indonesia | 1.83 |
54 | Argentina | 1.84 |
55 | Madagascar | 1.85 |
56 | Namibia | 1.86 |
57 | Moldova | 1.87 |
58 | Chile | 1.87 |
59 | Gambia | 1.89 |
60 | Greece | 1.89 |
Africa Avg | 2.29 | |
World Avg | 2.07 | |
q=163. |
Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank32 | |
1 | Samoa | 1 |
2 | S. Africa | 2 |
3 | Tunisia | 3 |
... | ||
86 | Cambodia | 86 |
87 | Bangladesh | 87 |
88 | Honduras | 88 |
89 | Namibia | 89 |
90 | Uganda | 90 |
91 | Congo, DR | 91 |
92 | Pakistan | 92 |
93 | Estonia | 93 |
Africa Avg | 83.6 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank32 | |
1 | Austria | 1 |
2 | Germany | 2 |
3 | Netherlands | 3 |
... | ||
103 | Barbados | 103 |
104 | Armenia | 104 |
105 | Suriname | 105 |
106 | Namibia | 106 |
107 | Tunisia | 107 |
108 | Cape Verde | 108 |
109 | China | 109 |
110 | Kazakhstan | 110 |
Africa Avg | 104.5 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Economic Inequality and Poverty:
Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better65 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201965 | |
1 | Iceland | 2.40 |
2= | Singapore | 2.50 |
2= | Hong Kong | 2.50 |
... | ||
133 | Senegal | 21.20 |
134 | Eritrea | 21.40 |
135 | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | 21.70 |
136 | Namibia | 22.10 |
137= | Kenya | 22.50 |
137= | Bolivia | 22.50 |
139 | Laos | 22.60 |
140= | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 22.80 |
Africa Avg | 26.10 | |
World Avg | 14.59 | |
q=184. |
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better66 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 %66 | |
1 | Slovakia | 24.1%67 |
2 | Slovenia | 24.3%67 |
3 | Belarus | 24.4%68 |
... | ||
160 | Zambia | 51.5%69 |
161 | Brazil | 52.0%69 |
162 | Botswana | 53.3%70 |
163 | Swaziland | 54.6%71 |
164 | Colombia | 54.8%69 |
165 | Belize | 57.7%72 |
166 | Namibia | 59.1%70 |
167 | S. Africa | 63.0%73 |
Africa Avg | 40.7% | |
World Avg | 36.5% | |
q=167. |
Income inequality data is rarely available for Namibia - only for 4 years between 1980 and 2019. It was measured once in the 1990s, and by a large margin was the most unequal of all 117 countries surveyed throughout that decade. In the 2000s, it was only 2nd-worse, after its neighbour Botswana.
Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better74 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Severity74 | |
1 | Armenia | .001 |
2 | Ukraine | .001 |
3 | Serbia | .001 |
... | ||
57 | Lesotho | .146 |
58 | Nepal | .148 |
59 | Cambodia | .170 |
60 | Namibia | .171 |
61 | Vanuatu | .174 |
62 | Bhutan | .175 |
63 | Myanmar (Burma) | .176 |
64 | Kenya | .178 |
Africa Avg | .264 | |
World Avg | .154 | |
q=101. |
#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion
Disbelief In God (2007)75 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better %75 | |
1 | Vietnam | 81 |
2 | Japan | 65 |
3 | Sweden | 64 |
... | ||
51= | Ireland | 5 |
51= | Mozambique | 5 |
53 | Zimbabwe | 4 |
54= | Namibia | 4 |
54= | Iran | 4 |
54= | Mexico | 4 |
54= | Portugal | 4 |
54= | Romania | 4 |
54= | Argentina | 4 |
54= | Georgia | 4 |
54= | Uzbekistan | 4 |
62 | Lebanon | 3 |
63= | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 3 |
63= | Poland | 3 |
63= | Jamaica | 3 |
63= | India | 3 |
World Avg | 9.9 | |
q=137. |
Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below76:
Christian | 97.5% |
Muslim | 0.3% |
Hindu | 0.1% |
Buddhist | 0.1% |
Folk Religion | 0.2% |
Jewish | 0.1% |
Unaffiliated | 1.9% |
The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%77.
Links: