Namibia: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Namibia?

Life expectancy at birth in Namibia was 67.5 years in 2024, according to World Bank Open Data, based on UN population estimates.

Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a newborn would live if the death rates of that year held throughout their life. It is a modelled estimate. A September 2026 procurement notice on the NSA website concerns the printing of national population projection, fertility and mortality reports. Figures for men and women are given separately in the World Bank database.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Namibia

What is the HIV rate in Namibia?

9.0% of Namibians aged 15 to 49 were living with HIV in 2024, according to World Bank Open Data. The maternal mortality ratio was 139 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Bank maternal mortality series.

HIV prevalence is the share of the adult population living with HIV, whether or not they know their status or are on treatment. The maternal mortality figure is a modelled estimate by UN agencies. The Ministry of Health and Social Services site could not be reached on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank API: Prevalence of HIV, Namibia · World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, Namibia

What is the infant mortality rate in Namibia?

Namibia's infant mortality rate was 26.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency's 2023 Census Mortality Thematic Report (2026). The under-five mortality rate was 38.8 per 1,000.

Infant mortality was higher in rural areas (29.3) than in urban areas (23.0), and highest in the Hardap (42.6) and Omaheke (35.7) regions. The census estimates come from questions about births and deaths in households. The UN inter-agency modelled estimate is higher, at 36.4 per 1,000 in 2024, on World Bank Open Data, because the two use different data and methods.

Official sources: 2023 Census Mortality Thematic Report · World Bank Open Data (API)

What is the maternal mortality rate in Namibia?

Namibia's maternal mortality ratio was 193 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency's 2023 Census Mortality Thematic Report. The ratio was highest among women aged 45 to 49, at 811, and 269 among girls aged 15 to 19.

The ratio counts women who die from pregnancy-related causes during pregnancy, childbirth or soon after, for every 100,000 live births. The census figure comes from household reports of deaths. The UN's modelled estimate is lower, at 139 per 100,000 in 2023, on World Bank Open Data. Small numbers of deaths make both estimates uncertain.

Official sources: 2023 Census Mortality Thematic Report · World Bank Open Data

How much does Namibia spend on health?

Health spending in Namibia was 9.48% of GDP in 2023, according to WHO estimates on World Bank Open Data. It was 9.62% in 2022. Households paid 7.49% of current health spending out of their own pockets, the same source shows.

Current health spending covers public and private spending on health care and goods, but not buildings and equipment. A low out-of-pocket share means most care is paid for by government, medical aid schemes or donors. There were 0.55 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022, according to WHO data. The Ministry of Health and Social Services site (mhss.gov.na) did not respond on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · the same source shows (API) · according to WHO data

How many children do women in Namibia have?

Women in Namibia had an average of 3.8 children each according to the 2023 census, up from 3.6 in 2011, the Namibia Statistics Agency's 2023 Population and Housing Census main report shows. The UN modelled estimate is lower, at 3.21 births per woman in 2024, on World Bank Open Data.

The fertility rate is the number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current birth rates by age. The census and the UN model use different data and adjustments, so they should not be compared directly. The population grew 3.0% a year between the 2011 and 2023 censuses, from 2,113,077 to 3,022,401. The NSA published a separate fertility thematic report in 2026.

Official sources: 2023 Population and Housing Census main report · World Bank Open Data

How long do people live in Namibia?

The UN Population Division puts life expectancy at birth in Namibia at 67.5 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 64.3 years; Namibia is 14th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 148th highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Namibia?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Namibia was 36.4 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 25th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 37.2 per 1,000. Worldwide: 30th of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Namibia?

According to the WHO, the maternal mortality ratio in Namibia was 139 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 127 per 100,000 (2022) to 547 per 100,000 (2009). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 257 per 100,000, and Namibia placed 40th highest of 48. Worldwide: 54th of 192.

What is Namibia's health spending?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 9.5% of GDP. Its high point since 2005 was 2007, at 11.4% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 8.4% of GDP. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 4.4% of GDP, and Namibia placed 5th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 34th of 191.

How much of health care in Namibia do patients pay for?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Namibia was 7.5% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 9.9%; its low point was 2007, at 5.4%. It is 45th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 32.4%. Worldwide: 177th of 191.

How many doctors does Namibia have?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Namibia was 0.55 per 1,000 in 2022. The peak was 0.57 per 1,000 in 2017 and the low 0.34 per 1,000 in 2018. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.18 per 1,000, and Namibia placed 6th highest of 46. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 80th highest.

How many children in Namibia are vaccinated against measles?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 79.0%. The peak was 91.0% in 2021 and the low 63.0% in 2006. It is 26th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 81.0%. Worldwide: 147th of 191.