Namibia Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Namibia
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Increased Caution
Updated May 15, 2026
Namibia recorded 11.2 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2021, a rate that is high by global standards. That places Namibia #39 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Africa average of 7.6 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 22% over the past decade (from 14.3 in 2011). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Namibia at Level 2 of 4: Exercise Increased Caution.
Homicide Rate
11.2 /100k
Safety Rank
#157 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 2 of 4
Data Year
2021
Homicide Rate Trend (1995-2021)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 22% over the past decade (from 14.3 in 2011). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Namibia Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Namibia, the homicide rate for men is 2.7× higher than the rate for women — 16.5 vs 6.2 per 100,000 (2021).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Namibia:
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise increased caution in Namibia due to crime and health . Advisory Summary Crime Non-violent crimes of opportunity are common. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching, pickpocketing, and smash and grabs from unoccupied parked vehicles. Potentially violent crimes are possible, including home invasions and armed robberies. Weapons most commonly used by criminals are knives and machetes. Health Namibia is sparsely populated.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Namibia Population & Demographics
Population of 3,030,131, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Namibia safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Namibia at Level 2 of 4 (Exercise Increased Caution). The homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 is high by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Namibia?
Namibia has an intentional homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people (2021, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #39 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Namibia?
Namibia is currently at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Namibia compare to other countries?
Namibia's homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 is above the world average of 5.2 and above the Africa average of 7.6.