The Namibia Statistics Agency says the size of the Namibian economy grew to N$66.4 billion in nominal terms during the third quarter of 2025, up from N$62.6 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024.
NSA Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer Alex Shimuafeni said the domestic economy grew by 1.9% in the third quarter of 2025, representing a slowdown from the 2.1% growth recorded in the same period last year.
“The performance during the quarter under review is mainly attributable to tertiary industries, which recorded growth of 4.1% in real value added, compared with 6.1% in the corresponding period of 2024,” Shimuafeni said.
According to the NSA’s Gross Domestic Product report for the third quarter of 2025, growth in tertiary industries was driven primarily by financial service activities, which expanded by 8.4%, up from 6.4% a year earlier. Wholesale and retail trade grew by 5.5%, compared with 11.7% in the same quarter of 2024, while education expanded by 4.9% from 2.7%, and health services grew by 4.7%, compared with 13.5% a year earlier.
Secondary industries recorded growth of 1.2% in real value added during the quarter, down from 2.2% in the corresponding period of 2024.
“This performance emanates from the electricity and water sector, which registered a 12.5% increase in real value added, compared with a decrease of 2.1% witnessed in the same quarter of 2024,” Shimuafeni said.
Primary industries continued to contract, recording a decline of 6.9% in real value added, compared with a contraction of 14.1% in the third quarter of 2024.
The NSA attributed the decline to weaker performance in agriculture and forestry, as well as mining and quarrying, which recorded contractions of 22.7% and 4.2%, respectively.
“The decline registered in these sectors is reflected in the significant reduction in total animals marketed, as farmers continue to restock, as well as a decrease in the production of diamond and metal ores, excluding uranium ore,” Shimuafeni said.
On the demand side, private final consumption expenditure grew by 5.1% during the quarter, compared with a contraction of 6.5% in the same period of 2024, reflecting increased household consumption.
Government final consumption expenditure also remained positive, increasing by 4.1% in the third quarter of 2025, slightly below the 4.2% growth recorded a year earlier. The NSA attributed this performance to an increase in the number of public servants.
Gross fixed capital formation declined by 3.7% during the quarter, compared with a sharper contraction of 20.6% in the corresponding quarter of 2024, largely due to reduced investment in buildings and construction activities.
The report further noted that exports of goods and services continued to grow during the third quarter of 2025, rising by 4.7%, while imports increased marginally by 0.3%. This resulted in a narrowing of the external balance deficit, which the agency described as an encouraging development for the economy.
