Government spent N$7.27 billion on social grants in the 2025/26 financial year, supporting 954,388 beneficiaries and underscoring the scale of reliance on state assistance across Namibia.
The payout, which achieved a 99% execution rate, highlights social protection as one of the largest and most consistent components of public spending.
Finance Minister Erica Shafudah said the scale of disbursement reflects the central role of grants in sustaining households.
“Social grants remained a major expenditure driver, with N$7.27 billion disbursed to support various categories of beneficiaries,” she said.
Old age grants dominated spending, accounting for N$4.14 billion paid to 224,589 beneficiaries. Vulnerable grants followed at N$1.05 billion for 240,620 recipients.
Disability support totalled N$1.41 billion, covering both adults and minors, while maintenance grants reached N$390.9 million for 94,591 beneficiaries.
Additional allocations included N$192.1 million under the Consolidated Basic Income Grant, N$25.6 million for foster care, and N$51.6 million for funeral support.
The figures point to the growing weight of social transfers in the economy, with close to a million Namibians dependent on direct state support for basic needs.
Shafudah said administration of the system is shared between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare to ensure effective delivery.
“The administration of social grants payments remains a shared responsibility to ensure effective delivery across the social protection system,” she said.
The scale of spending reflects both the reach of Namibia’s social safety net and the underlying economic pressures facing households, as government continues to balance welfare support with fiscal sustainability.
