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Country analysis

Namibia


An estimated 695,000 people in Namibia (26% of the population analysed) are expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels between October 2023 and March 2024, including 65,000 people facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. Food insecurity drivers include a nationwide drought, insect and worm invasions, increased food prices, and unemployment.

Poor households rely on ill-adapted rain-fed agriculture and external markets for food consumption, making them highly vulnerable to the increase in food prices and less resilient to shocks. The country’s overreliance on food imports also makes it susceptible to changes in global markets, as it imports up to 80% of its food. The affected population tends to use coping strategies with possibly detrimental consequences, such as reducing the number of meals taken and selling assets.

Namibia ranks 78th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, meaning it suffers from a significant level of hunger that is leading to growing concerns about malnutrition.

(IPC 06/09/2023, WFP 19/12/2023, WFP accessed 06/02/2024, Concern/WHH 12/10/2023, New Era 30/01/2017)

An estimated 695,000 people in Namibia (26% of the population analysed) are expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels between October 2023 and March 2024, including 65,000 people facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. Food insecurity drivers include a nationwide drought, insect and worm invasions, increased food prices, and unemployment.

Poor households rely on ill-adapted rain-fed agriculture and external markets for food consumption, making them highly vulnerable to the increase in food prices and less resilient to shocks. The country’s overreliance on food imports also makes it susceptible to changes in global markets, as it imports up to 80% of its food. The affected population tends to use coping strategies with possibly detrimental consequences, such as reducing the number of meals taken and selling assets.

Namibia ranks 78th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, meaning it suffers from a significant level of hunger that is leading to growing concerns about malnutrition.

(IPC 06/09/2023, WFP 19/12/2023, WFP accessed 06/02/2024, Concern/WHH 12/10/2023, New Era 30/01/2017)

Latest updates on country situation

12 September 2023

From July–September 2023, Erongo and Khomas are the only two regions in Namibia facing IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) food insecurity; the other 12 are classified as IPC Phase 3 (Emergency). Currently, approximately 579,000 people (22% of the population) are experiencing severe acute food insecurity (IPC 3 or worse). This represents a 59% increase from the previous IPC report covering April–June 2023, indicating that more people urgently require assistance to bridge the food gap and protect their livelihoods. The main factors contributing to the worsening food security situation in Namibia include climatic and price shocks, economic decline, and high unemployment rates. (IPC 06/09/2023, IPC 23/02/2023)

current crises
in Namibia


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

NAM002 - Food Security Crisis

Last updated 28/02/2024


Drivers

Drought

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.5 Medium

Access constraints

1.0

REG012 - Southern Africa Regional Food Security Crisis

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.9 High

Access constraints

4.0