Imports of goods and services in Namibia
Namibia: Imports of goods and services was 63.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Namibia, 1980–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in Namibia is 63.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Namibia peaked at 72.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 40.1%, in 1985.
Namibia ranks 53rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 56.3% | — |
| 1981 | 67.8% | +20.5% |
| 1982 | 60.9% | -10.1% |
| 1983 | 52.7% | -13.6% |
| 1984 | 51.5% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 40.1% | -22.2% |
| 1986 | 46.2% | +15.1% |
| 1987 | 51.4% | +11.2% |
| 1988 | 44.8% | -12.9% |
| 1989 | 46.5% | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 50.2% | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 49.9% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 49.0% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 49.5% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 45.4% | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 48.9% | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 51.1% | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 50.2% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 50.8% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 49.7% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 44.4% | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 47.5% | +7.1% |
| 2002 | 48.2% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 52.5% | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 42.1% | -19.9% |
| 2005 | 40.3% | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 41.5% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 55.1% | +32.9% |
| 2008 | 66.0% | +19.7% |
| 2009 | 72.2% | +9.4% |
| 2010 | 59.8% | -17.2% |
| 2011 | 56.6% | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 60.2% | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 60.2% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 64.1% | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 61.9% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 59.0% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 47.6% | -19.3% |
| 2018 | 45.8% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 46.5% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 43.2% | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 51.6% | +19.3% |
| 2022 | 58.8% | +14.0% |
| 2023 | 66.5% | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 66.9% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 63.9% | -4.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 63.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 1.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 63.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 2.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 51.8% | 40.1% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.5% | 45.4% | 51.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.0% | 40.3% | 72.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.2% | 45.8% | 64.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.5% | 43.2% | 66.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More economy & growth data for Namibia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.64 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 44.40 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0033 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.65 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -15.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1418 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 638.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -7.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Namibia?
- Imports of goods and services in Namibia was 63.9% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.1% in 1985.
- How does Namibia rank for imports of goods and services?
- Namibia ranks 53rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.