Key Facts: Namibia Wages
- Country
- Namibia (NAM)
- Continent
- Africa
- Currency
- Namibian dollar (NAD)
- Minimum Wage
- N$18 /hr ($1.13 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- N$13,500 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- N$162,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- N$48,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 45 hours
- Data Source
- Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation / Wage Order 2024
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-25
Namibia — Average Salary & Wages
Namibian dollar (NAD) Data verified Jan 2024 Sources
The average salary in Namibia is
N$162,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than N$48,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Namibia is N$18/hr ($1.13 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is N$13,500 ($845.34 USD). The median monthly income is N$4,000 ($250.47 USD).
Estimates. Extreme income inequality means median income is far below the average. Rural areas have significantly lower incomes than urban centers like Windhoek.
Average monthly earnings in the formal sector. Mining and financial services sectors have significantly higher wages. Namibia has one of the highest Gini coefficients in the world (~0.59).
• SECTOR RATES
General private sector
N$18 /hr
Full NMW rate from January 1, 2025
Domestic workers
N$12 /hr
Phased increase: N$12 (2025), N$15 (2026), N$18 (2027)
Agricultural workers
N$10 /hr
Phased increase: N$10 (2025), N$14 (2026), N$18 (2027)
Minimum Wage Trend
Compare Namibia with other countries• PPP ADJUSTED
In Namibia, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $2.60/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Namibia earns N$3,510/mo. That is 26% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- N$3,510 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 26% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $219.79/mo monthly
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- N$18
- Monthly
- N$3,510Based on 195 hours/month (45 hrs/week)
- Annual
- N$42,120Based on 12 monthly payments
Namibia's first-ever national minimum wage (NMW), set at N$18/hour for all private-sector employees except domestic and agricultural workers. Domestic workers: N$12/hour (rising to N$15 in 2026, N$18 in 2027). Agricultural workers: N$10/hour (rising to N$14 in 2026, N$18 in 2027). Established under section 13 of the Labour Act, 2007. The Wages Commission was appointed in February 2021 to investigate and recommend the NMW.
Work Week
- Standard
- 45 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 45 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Labour Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime limited to 10 hours/week and 3 hours/day. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Rest days at 2x. Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Weekly rest of at least 36 consecutive hours (ideally including Sunday). Annual leave: 20 working days for 5-day week.
How Namibia Compares
| Metric | Namibia | Africa Avg. | Africa Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $1.13/hr | $0.91/hr | $6.06/hr (Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $845.34/mo | $381.53/mo | $1,625/mo (Mauritania) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Armenia | $1.14 |
| Ukraine | $1.15 |
| Kazakhstan | $1.05 |
| Cape Verde | $1.05 |
| Tuvalu | $1.03 |
| Namibia | $1.13 |
Related Wage Comparisons
• NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
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Burundi Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Namibia on our sister site.
Cost of living in Namibia on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Namibia?
The minimum wage in Namibia is N$18/hr (approximately $1.13 USD), effective since 2025-01-01. Namibia's first-ever national minimum wage (NMW), set at N$18/hour for all private-sector employees except domestic and agricultural workers. Domestic workers: N$12/hour (rising to N$15 in 2026, N$18 in 2027). Agricultural workers: N$10/hour (rising to N$14 in 2026, N$18 in 2027). Established under section 13 of the Labour Act, 2007. The Wages Commission was appointed in February 2021 to investigate and recommend the NMW.
What is the average salary in Namibia?
The average gross monthly salary in Namibia is N$13,500 (approximately $845.34 USD). Average monthly earnings in the formal sector. Mining and financial services sectors have significantly higher wages. Namibia has one of the highest Gini coefficients in the world (~0.59). Source: Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Namibia?
The standard work week in Namibia is 45 hours, with a legal maximum of 45 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime limited to 10 hours/week and 3 hours/day. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Rest days at 2x. Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Weekly rest of at least 36 consecutive hours (ideally including Sunday). Annual leave: 20 working days for 5-day week.
What is the minimum wage in Namibia in USD?
The minimum wage in Namibia converts to approximately $1.13/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Namibia in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Namibia is approximately $845.34 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Namibia's minimum wage compare to the Africa average?
Namibia's minimum wage ranks #7 out of 33 countries with statutory minimum wages in Africa, placing it above the median for Africa.
From Insights
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