Country profile 2015 : Namibia / [Zebulun Kreiter]

Namibia has experienced multiple years of robust economic growth and has made great strides in human development since independence in 1990, but with a Gini coefficient of 0.60, it remains one of the most unequal countries in the world (Namibia Statistics Agency, 2012). Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is estimated to have slowed to 4.5 per cent in 2015 due to a sharp contraction in agriculture and slower than expected growth in construction and wholesale and retail trade. Namibia is classified as an upper middle income country, but poverty continues to be widespread with an incidence of 26.9 per cent (National Planning Commission, 2015). An agreement reached between the Government and grassroots activists will see the Government service 200,000 plots nationwide by clearing land, supplying basic utilities and ensuring road access, among other reforms. In addition, new legislation will pave the way for the provision of land to landless Namibians. While the implementation of reforms is already under way, numerous challenges lie ahead.