The City of Windhoek approved 1,941 building plans worth N$2.22 billion over the 12 months ending March 2025, marking a 4.6% year-on-year increase in the number of plans and a 21.3% rise in value, according to the latest data.
This follows the approval of 196 building plans in March 2025 alone, valued at N$358.9 million. This represents a 38.0% month-on-month increase in the number of approvals and a substantial 168.2% month-on-month surge in value.
“Compared to the same month last year, approvals rose by 6.5% year-on-year, while the value increased by 22.0%,” analysts at IJG Securities stated. “Despite the strong monthly performance, year-to-date figures indicate that both additions to properties and residential categories are underperforming in value terms when compared to the same period last year.”
IJG however, noted that building completions remained subdued during March, with only 23 plans finalised at a total value of N$22.4 million.
“This reflects a 23.3% year-on-year decline in the number of completions and a significant 59.7% year-on-year drop in value,” IJG said.
IIJG noted that the municipality approved its first commercial and industrial building units for the year in March, amounting to a combined value of N$161.2 million—significantly up from the N$4 million recorded in March 2024.
A total of eight commercial and industrial units acciording to IJG were approved in March 2025, surpassing the average of four units per month recorded over the past four years, placing the latest figures well above trend.
“Although the number of commercial and industrial units approved year-to-date represents a 20% decline year-on-year, the total value has surged by 830.0% to N$161.2 million. No completions were recorded in this category for March 2025.” IJG reported.
“Looking at the twelve-month cumulative data, approvals have dipped by 3.6% year-on-year in volume terms to 54 units, while their value has increased by 112.6% year-on-year to N$684.1 million.”
