Namibia Inflation Rate Hits Over 2-Year High of 5.4%

Namibia's annual inflation rate rose to 5.4% in September 2026, the highest in over two years, from 5.0% in August. The pickup was driven mainly by transportation, where inflation increased to 14.9% from 13.2% in August, owing to fuels (30.4% vs 25.1%). Prices also advanced faster for health (5.3% vs 5%) and hotels, cafés and restaurants (6.3% vs 6.2%), while food & non-alcoholic beverages held steady at 4%. By contrast, housing & utilities eased (4.2% vs 4.3%) and the decline in communication prices narrowed (-0.9% vs -1.1%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.4%, slowing from a 0.6% increase in the prior month.

Namibia’s annual inflation rate climbed to 5% in August 2026, the highest since February 2024, accelerating from 4.4% in each of the previous two months. The pickup was driven mainly by a sharp increase in transportation costs, with inflation in the category jumping to 13.2% from 9.3% in July, owing to fuels (25.1% vs 15.5%). Significant price pressures also came from hotels, cafés and restaurants (6.2% vs 6.2%); health (5% vs 4.8%); food & non-alcoholic beverages (4% vs 3.7%) and housing & utlities (4.3% vs 4.8%). By contrast, prices fell further for communication (-1.1% vs -1%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.6%, after a 0.1% increase in the prior month.

The annual inflation rate in Namibia stood at 4.4% in July 2026, the highest level since August 2024, unchanged from June. Transportation was the main source of price pressure, rising 9.3%, followed by hotels, cafés and restaurants (6.2%) and recreation and culture (5.6%), while housing & utilities (4.8%) and health (4.8%) also recorded steep increases. Meanwhile, alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.1%) and clothing and footwear (0.4%) recorded more modest price growth, while communication costs declined by 1%. On a monthly basis, the CPI edged up by 0.1%, after a 0.3% increase in the month before.