Safest cities in Namibia
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in NamibiaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Namibia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsMuggers often target tourists in Windhoek. Attacks may be violent and can take place at any time of day and in busy city-centre locations. To reduce your personal risk:
- Vehicle crimeGangs sometimes try to enter vehicles at busy intersections in Windhoek. Theft from vehicles, particularly at service stations, is common. To reduce the risks:
- Credit card skimmingThere have been cases of credit card skimming at some hotels and lodges. Always keep your card in sight when paying and check your statement.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAlways carry UK photo ID. You may need to show ID at police checkpoints in Windhoek and other major towns and cities. Keep copies of the photo page of your passport and important documents separately in a safe place.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex relationships are not illegal in Namibia. Certain same-sex sexual acts are illegal, but generally not prosecuted. There are no laws against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Conservative attitudes towards LGBT+ individuals remain, especially in rural regions. Showing affection in public may result in unwanted attention.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesPenalties for using or smuggling illegal drugs can be severe. Penalties include large fines and imprisonment.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsIt’s illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. You will be prosecuted and could get a fine or prison sentence for buying or trafficking these goods, including ivory and rhino horn.
- Using cameras in secure areasPolice have detained people for taking pictures of the President’s official residence. Check before taking photographs of government buildings or in secure areas.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Make sure your travel insurance covers you for any adventure activities you plan to do, like quad biking, dune boarding or hot air ballooning.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Namibia, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving standardsDuring the rainy season from January to April, many gravel roads deteriorate. You should:
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Namibia, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 11.21 /100k2021
- Income inequality
- Gini 59.12015
- Human development
- HDI 0.6652023
- Income
- $11,260/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 34.8 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 75/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 63/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 46/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.61GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 14.2 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.6 doctors /1k2.7 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 7 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 9.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 5.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Namibia (as of 2025).
How Namibia compares
| Measure | Namibia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 11 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +8.8 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 59.1 | 35.2 | +23.9 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.665 | 0.763 | −0.098 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 34.8 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +19.4 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 63/100 | 52/100 | +11/100 — better for Namibia |
| Corruption perceptions | 46/100 | 39/100 | +7/100 — better for Namibia |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.2 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −5.5 µg/m³ — better for Namibia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.2/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.4/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Namibia | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 11 /100k | 4.4 /100k | +6.8 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 59.1 | 38.3 | +20.9 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.665 | 0.560 | +0.105 — better for Namibia |
| Road deaths | 34.8 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +6.9 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 63/100 | 42/100 | +21/100 — better for Namibia |
| Corruption perceptions | 46/100 | 30/100 | +16/100 — better for Namibia |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.2 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −13.5 µg/m³ — better for Namibia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.2/10 | 5.3/10 | −1.1/10 — better for Namibia |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- Windhoek46.7 · #5431 worldwide