MigrantoNamibian Diaspora
40.4K Namibians live abroad — 1% of the population of Namibia
Namibian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 92% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 34273 |
| Australia | 1890 |
| Botswana | 1043 |
| Zambia | 1026 |
| Angola | 917 |
| Tanzania | 622 |
| Finland | 179 |
| Denmark | 114 |
| Norway | 110 |
| Iceland | 65 |
| Kenya | 55 |
| Hungary | 29 |
| Luxembourg | 16 |
| Bulgaria | 11 |
| Lesotho | 7 |
| Greece | 5 |
| Estonia | 4 |
| Slovenia | 2 |
| Guinea | 1 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Lithuania | 1 |
| Slovakia | 0 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
94% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Namibian diaspora in numbers
Most Namibians abroad live in South Africa
85% of the diaspora lives in South Africa, while the next country accounts for just 5%.
Namibian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 45857 |
| 1995 | 36999 |
| 2000 | 44921 |
| 2005 | 47680 |
| 2010 | 45530 |
| 2015 | 43728 |
| 2020 | 42223 |
| 2024 | 40371 |
Largest communities over time
Namibians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | South Africa | Australia | Botswana | Zambia | Angola |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 42066 | 207 | 286 | 2360 | 345 |
| 1995 | 34641 | 308 | 462 | 473 | 401 |
| 2000 | 42502 | 447 | 687 | 101 | 457 |
| 2005 | 44041 | 737 | 1208 | 251 | 601 |
| 2010 | 41269 | 1097 | 853 | 630 | 732 |
| 2015 | 38929 | 1436 | 926 | 554 | 839 |
| 2020 | 36795 | 1687 | 988 | 774 | 890 |
| 2024 | 34273 | 1890 | 1043 | 1026 | 917 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Namibians in each country has changed since the selected year
Namibians among immigrants in other countries
Where Namibians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Namibians live outside Namibia?
Around 40.4K Namibians live abroad, the world's #169 largest diaspora.
Where do most Namibians abroad live?
Most Namibians live in South Africa, Australia and Botswana — these three countries account for about 92% of all Namibians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Namibian population outside Namibia?
South Africa is home to the largest Namibian community abroad — 34.3K people, about 85% of all Namibians living abroad.
What share of the population of Namibia lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Namibia lives abroad — that's 40.4K out of a total population of 3M.
Is the Namibian diaspora growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of Namibians living abroad has fallen from 43.7K to 40.4K, about 8%.
Where does the data on the Namibian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Namibia who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in Namibia
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