Namibia has been ranked the fifth safest country in Africa, placing it among those with the lowest exposure to money laundering and financial crime risks on the continent, according to the 2025 Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Risk Index.
The Basel AML Index, an independent assessment that measures national vulnerability to financial crime, shows steady improvement by Namibia over the past three years. The country’s score declined from 5.09 in 2023 to 4.89 in 2024, and further to 4.78 in 2025, on a scale where lower scores indicate stronger resilience and reduced risk exposure.
“The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) is pleased to announce Namibia’s continued progress in strengthening its defences against money laundering and financial crime, as reflected in the 2025 Basel Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime Risk Index Score,” said FIC Director Bryan Eiseb.
According to the FIC, the improved ranking directly supports Namibia’s National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) target of reducing illicit financial flows from 9% of GDP in 2024 to 5% by 2030.
Eiseb said that while the progress is significant, continued vigilance remains essential, particularly in improving beneficial ownership transparency, strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism effectiveness, and completing a comprehensive National Risk Assessment in 2026.
“This sustained improvement affirms Namibia’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its financial system. It also reflects the joint efforts of supervisory bodies, law enforcement agencies, accountable and reporting institutions, and policymakers who continue to strengthen AML/CFT compliance, coordination and enforcement. The reforms undertaken across the national AML/CFT ecosystem are producing measurable, internationally recognised results,” he said.
