Population figures
Total country population
2,645,805
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
5,144
Asylum-seekers:
1,174
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
55
Country context
Namibia is a country located on the southwestern coast of Africa, bordered by Angola, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its geographic position places it along key regional migratory routes and influences population movements related to asylum and protection.
Namibia acceded to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, incorporating their provisions into the Refugees (Recognition and Control) Act of 1999, supported by regulations promulgated in 2000. This Act also reflects elements of the 1969 OAU Convention. The framework establishes procedures for refugee status determination, documentation, and protection against refoulement. However, Namibia maintains a reservation to Article 26 of the 1951 Convention, limiting the freedom of movement of refugees and asylum seekers under its long-standing encampment policy.
...Most refugees in Namibia reside at Osire Refugee Settlement, located about 225 km north of Windhoek. They primarily originate from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. A smaller number live in urban areas such as Windhoek. While refugees in Namibia may access education, healthcare, and employment within national systems, these rights are subject to administrative conditions.
The Government has made strides in implementing pledges related to law reform, local integration, and the eradication of statelessness. Although opportunities for local integration remain limited, the Government approved the local integration of 2,400 former Angolan refugees.
Moreover, significant legal progress has been achieved in recent years. In 2024, Namibia passed key reforms such as the Civil Registration and Identification Act, providing a comprehensive framework for the registration of vital events (e.g., births, deaths) and the issuance of identity documents, thereby strengthening protection against statelessness. Previously, the Namibian Citizenship (Second) Special Conferment Act of 2015 also expanded access to citizenship for long-term residents at risk of statelessness.
Namibia is not a party to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, but the Government has reiterated its intention to accede. An in-depth national study on statelessness has been completed and contributed to the drafting of legislative bills to address remaining protection gaps. While implementation has progressed slowly, Namibia's sustained policy attention—especially following national census results that revealed a significant number of undocumented individuals—underscores its commitment to resolving statelessness.
Namibia does not report a presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and its current protection focus remains on refugee management and addressing statelessness through legal reform.
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