Namibia
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of Namibia.
CIA 2026
Matchup file
Namibia vs South Africa
120 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
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South Africa leads by 34 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
What matters for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
South Africa
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of South Africa.
CIA 2026
Curated stat
South Africa splits its capitals three ways: Pretoria runs administration, Cape Town legislates, and Bloemfontein anchors the judiciary.
Analysis
South Africa leads in 77 of 120 shared metrics, while Namibia leads in 43.
Namibia's FDI Inflows (% GDP) is 24.4x that of South Africa (14.76% of GDP vs 0.58% of GDP).
Namibia's Firms Asked for Bribes is 8.0x that of South Africa (13.77% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).
Namibia's EV Chargers per 100,000 People is 7.8x that of South Africa (0.07 per 100k people vs 0.01 per 100k people).
Namibia's GDP Growth Rate is 5.9x that of South Africa (3.7% vs 0.53%).
Namibia's Solar Electricity Share is 3.4x that of South Africa (35.37% vs 8.0%).
Key Comparisons
FDI Inflows (% GDP)Namibia leads
Namibia
14.76% of GDP
South Africa
0.58% of GDP
Firms Asked for BribesNamibia leads
Namibia
13.77% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
EV Chargers per 100,000 PeopleNamibia leads
Namibia
0.07 per 100k people
South Africa
0.01 per 100k people
GDP Growth RateNamibia leads
Namibia
3.7%
South Africa
0.53%
Solar Electricity ShareNamibia leads
Namibia
35.37%
South Africa
8.0%
Protected Land (%)Namibia leads
Namibia
39.9%
South Africa
9.5%
All Metrics
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
14.76% of GDP
South Africa
0.58% of GDP
2441% higher
Firms Asked for Bribes
NamibiaNamibia
13.77% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
796% higher
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
NamibiaNamibia
0.07 per 100k people
South Africa
0.01 per 100k people
775% higher
GDP Growth Rate
NamibiaNamibia
3.7%
South Africa
0.53%
594% higher
Solar Electricity Share
NamibiaNamibia
35.37%
South Africa
8.0%
341% higher
Protected Land (%)
NamibiaNamibia
39.9%
South Africa
9.5%
320% higher
Firms Making Informal Payments
NamibiaNamibia
5.9% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
297% higher
Military Spending
NamibiaNamibia
2.7% of GDP
South Africa
0.70% of GDP
291% higher
Nurses & Midwives
NamibiaNamibia
3.4 per 1k
South Africa
1.0 per 1k
223% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
NamibiaNamibia
30%
South Africa
9.7%
209% higher
Imports (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
67.98% of GDP
South Africa
29.85% of GDP
128% higher
Air Passengers
South AfricaNamibia
60.3K
South Africa
15.45M
100% lower
Water Withdrawal
South AfricaNamibia
0.10 B m³
South Africa
21.11 B m³
100% lower
Irrigated Land
South AfricaNamibia
80 km²
South Africa
16.7K km²
100% lower
Scientific Publications
South AfricaNamibia
219.77
South Africa
16.7K
99% lower
Total CO2 Emissions
South AfricaNamibia
3.6 Mt CO2e
South Africa
440.17 Mt CO2e
99% lower
Electric Generating Capacity
South AfricaNamibia
646.0K kW
South Africa
65.99M kW
99% lower
Electricity Generation
South AfricaNamibia
1.9 TWh
South Africa
244.81 TWh
99% lower
High-Tech Exports (%)
South AfricaNamibia
0.12%
South Africa
5.7%
98% lower
Coal Electricity Share
South AfricaNamibia
2.4%
South Africa
81.36%
97% lower
GDP (Nominal)
South AfricaNamibia
$13,372,354,511.72
South Africa
$401,144,998,373.59
97% lower
Water Stress (%)
South AfricaNamibia
1.7%
South Africa
47.12%
96% lower
Shipping Traffic
South AfricaNamibia
160.4K
South Africa
4.05M
96% lower
Population
South AfricaNamibia
2.85M
South Africa
61.09M
95% lower
Tourist Arrivals
South AfricaNamibia
187.1K
South Africa
3.89M
95% lower
Tourism Revenue
South AfricaNamibia
$155,000,000
South Africa
$2,716,000,000
94% lower
Government Debt (% GDP)
South AfricaNamibia
4.6% of GDP
South Africa
79.45% of GDP
94% lower
Population Density
South AfricaNamibia
3.6 /km²
South Africa
52.11 /km²
93% lower
Electricity Carbon Intensity
South AfricaNamibia
48.78 gCO2/kWh
South Africa
699.29 gCO2/kWh
93% lower
Official Languages Count
South AfricaNamibia
1.0
South Africa
12
92% lower
Railway Length
South AfricaNamibia
2.6K km
South Africa
30.4K km
91% lower
Seafood Consumption per Person
NamibiaNamibia
12.11 kg/person/yr
South Africa
6.5 kg/person/yr
86% higher
Merchant Fleet Size
South AfricaNamibia
15
South Africa
110
86% lower
CO2 Per Capita
South AfricaNamibia
1.1 t/person/yr
South Africa
6.9 t/person/yr
83% lower
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
South AfricaNamibia
2.0 sites
South Africa
12 sites
83% lower
Armed Forces Personnel
South AfricaNamibia
16.0K
South Africa
89.0K
82% lower
Wind Electricity Share
South AfricaNamibia
1.2%
South Africa
4.7%
74% lower
Homicide Rate
South AfricaNamibia
11.21 per 100k
South Africa
43.72 per 100k
74% lower
Energy Use (Per Capita)
South AfricaNamibia
692.46 kg oil eq/person
South Africa
1.9K kg oil eq/person
64% lower
Forest Area
South AfricaNamibia
64.3K km²
South Africa
169.4K km²
62% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
South AfricaNamibia
1.2K kWh/person
South Africa
3.2K kWh/person
62% lower
Suicide Rate
South AfricaNamibia
8.6 per 100k
South Africa
22.3 per 100k
61% lower
Informal Employment Share
NamibiaNamibia
55.64% of employed people
South Africa
34.81% of employed people
60% higher
Beer Consumption
South AfricaNamibia
1.3 L/person/yr
South Africa
3.1 L/person/yr
58% lower
Spirits Consumption
South AfricaNamibia
0.46 L/person/yr
South Africa
1.1 L/person/yr
57% lower
Infant Mortality
NamibiaNamibia
38.4 per 1k births
South Africa
24.4 per 1k births
57% higher
Mobile Money Accounts
NamibiaNamibia
48.45% of adults
South Africa
31.62% of adults
53% higher
Education Spending (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
9.1% of GDP
South Africa
6.0% of GDP
51% higher
Sanitation Access (%)
South AfricaNamibia
38.72%
South Africa
77.38%
50% lower
Airports
South AfricaNamibia
294
South Africa
583
50% lower
Obesity Rate
South AfricaNamibia
15.29%
South Africa
30.03%
49% lower
Political Corruption Index
South AfricaNamibia
0.27
South Africa
0.54
49% lower
Meat Consumption per Person
South AfricaNamibia
30.53 kg/person/yr
South Africa
60.03 kg/person/yr
49% lower
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
South AfricaNamibia
85 per 100 people
South Africa
167 per 100 people
49% lower
Researchers
South AfricaNamibia
224.81 per 1M
South Africa
444.16 per 1M
49% lower
Food Waste per Person
NamibiaNamibia
136.75 kg/person/yr
South Africa
93.36 kg/person/yr
46% higher
Elderly Population (%)
South AfricaNamibia
3.7%
South Africa
6.7%
45% lower
Coastline Length
South AfricaNamibia
1.6K km
South Africa
2.8K km
44% lower
Forest Coverage (%)
South AfricaNamibia
7.8%
South Africa
13.97%
44% lower
Youth Population (%)
NamibiaNamibia
36.98%
South Africa
25.88%
43% higher
Dependency Ratio
NamibiaNamibia
68.5% of working-age pop.
South Africa
48.31% of working-age pop.
42% higher
Unemployment Rate
South AfricaNamibia
19.15%
South Africa
33.17%
42% lower
Insufficient Physical Activity
South AfricaNamibia
26.21% of adults
South Africa
44.8% of adults
42% lower
Firms Hit by Power Outages
South AfricaNamibia
53.68% of firms
South Africa
92.02% of firms
42% lower
Agricultural Land (%)
South AfricaNamibia
47.14%
South Africa
79.42%
41% lower
Birth Rate
NamibiaNamibia
23.93 per 1k
South Africa
17.21 per 1k
39% higher
Youth Unemployment Rate
South AfricaNamibia
38.05% of youth labor force
South Africa
59.93% of youth labor force
37% lower
Electricity Access (%)
South AfricaNamibia
56.7%
South Africa
87.7%
35% lower
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
NamibiaNamibia
67.43 per 100k
South Africa
50.46 per 100k
34% higher
Time Zones Count
South AfricaNamibia
2.0 time zones
South Africa
3.0 time zones
33% lower
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
NamibiaNamibia
20 days/yr
South Africa
15 days/yr
33% higher
Broadband Access (%)
NamibiaNamibia
4.0 per 100 people
South Africa
3.0 per 100 people
33% higher
Can Raise Emergency Money
NamibiaNamibia
90.87% of adults
South Africa
68.2% of adults
33% higher
Border Neighbors
South AfricaNamibia
4.0
South Africa
6.0
33% lower
Smoking Rate
South AfricaNamibia
14.1%
South Africa
20.7%
32% lower
Land Area
South AfricaNamibia
823.3K km²
South Africa
1.21M km²
32% lower
Milk Consumption per Person
NamibiaNamibia
73.05 kg/person/yr
South Africa
55.75 kg/person/yr
31% higher
Exports (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
41.64% of GDP
South Africa
31.79% of GDP
31% higher
GNI Per Capita
South AfricaNamibia
$4,240
South Africa
$6,110
31% lower
Doctors (per 1,000)
South AfricaNamibia
0.55 per 1k
South Africa
0.79 per 1k
30% lower
Tax Revenue (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
32.96% of GDP
South Africa
25.4% of GDP
30% higher
Alcohol Consumption
South AfricaNamibia
5.0 L/adult/yr
South Africa
7.1 L/adult/yr
29% lower
Health Spending Per Capita
South AfricaNamibia
$405.59
South Africa
$569.84
29% lower
Firms with Female Top Manager
South AfricaNamibia
27.53% of firms
South Africa
38.51% of firms
29% lower
Teen Birth Rate
NamibiaNamibia
66.03 per 1k
South Africa
51.56 per 1k
28% higher
Fertility Rate
NamibiaNamibia
2.9 children/woman
South Africa
2.2 children/woman
28% higher
Median Age
South AfricaNamibia
21.0 years
South Africa
28.2 years
26% lower
Highest Elevation
South AfricaNamibia
2.6K m
South Africa
3.5K m
25% lower
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
South AfricaNamibia
$11,686.6
South Africa
$15,456.2
24% lower
Women in Senior Management
NamibiaNamibia
48.24% of managers
South Africa
39.27% of managers
23% higher
Urban Population (%)
South AfricaNamibia
50.41%
South Africa
63.69%
21% lower
Land Border Length
South AfricaNamibia
4.2K km
South Africa
5.2K km
20% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
South AfricaNamibia
0.52
South Africa
0.63
18% lower
Capital Elevation
NamibiaNamibia
1.6K m
South Africa
1.4K m
18% higher
Child Mortality
NamibiaNamibia
40.7 per 1k births
South Africa
34.7 per 1k births
17% higher
Internet Users (%)
South AfricaNamibia
64%
South Africa
76%
16% lower
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
South AfricaNamibia
19.99 µg/m³
South Africa
23.75 µg/m³
16% lower
Electoral Democracy Index
South AfricaNamibia
0.63
South Africa
0.74
15% lower
Corruption Perceptions Index
NamibiaNamibia
46 pts
South Africa
41 pts
12% higher
University Enrollment Rate
NamibiaNamibia
26.11%
South Africa
23.49%
11% higher
Human Development Index
South AfricaNamibia
0.67
South Africa
0.74
10% lower
Road Traffic Death Rate
South AfricaNamibia
22 per 100k
South Africa
24.5 per 100k
10% lower
Women in Parliament (%)
South AfricaNamibia
40.63%
South Africa
44.7%
9% lower
Average Weekly Work Hours
NamibiaNamibia
44.91 hrs/week
South Africa
42.39 hrs/week
6% higher
Health Spending (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
9.3% of GDP
South Africa
8.8% of GDP
6% higher
Inflation Rate
South AfricaNamibia
4.2%
South Africa
4.4%
5% lower
Life Evaluation Score
South AfricaNamibia
4.8 pts
South Africa
5.0 pts
5% lower
R&D Spending (% GDP)
NamibiaNamibia
0.65% of GDP
South Africa
0.62% of GDP
5% higher
Adult Literacy Rate
South AfricaNamibia
87.64%
South Africa
91.15%
4% lower
Credit Card Ownership
South AfricaNamibia
9.2% of adults
South Africa
9.7% of adults
4% lower
Women's Political Empowerment
NamibiaNamibia
0.85
South Africa
0.83
3% higher
Death Rate
South AfricaNamibia
6.4 per 1k
South Africa
6.6 per 1k
3% lower
Freedom of Expression Index
NamibiaNamibia
0.86
South Africa
0.84
3% higher
Life Expectancy
NamibiaNamibia
67.4 years
South Africa
66.1 years
2% higher
Hypertension Prevalence
NamibiaNamibia
44.7% of adults
South Africa
44.4% of adults
1% higher
Digital Payments Used
NamibiaNamibia
67.62% of adults
South Africa
67.17% of adults
1% higher
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
South AfricaNamibia
0 per 1M people
South Africa
0.15 per 1M people
ranked lower
Lowest Elevation
NamibiaNamibia
0 m
South Africa
0 m
ranked higher
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
South AfricaNamibia
-13.2% of GDP
South Africa
-0.5% of GDP
ranked lower
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
South AfricaNamibia
0 per 1M people
South Africa
3.5 per 1M people
ranked lower
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