France and Namibia
France and Namibia connect economic contacts, universities and conservation. French regional delegations add a territorial dimension.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07History and institutional framework
Hauts-de-France missions and ocean meetings are different channels.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: France to Namibia | ||
| Goods: Namibia to France | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: France to Namibia | ||
| Export share: Namibia to France | ||
| Investment stock: France in Namibia | ||
| Investment stock: Namibia in France |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | France | Namibia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 3.37 trillion USD2025 · WB | 15.08 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 48,985.73 USD2025 · WB | 4,875.93 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 0.84 %2025 · WB | 1.73 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE | |
| Inflation · annual average | 0.94 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 3.51 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · Insee | |
| Unemployment | 7.54 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 19.29 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -6.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 116 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 70.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -0.27 %2025 · WB | -13.41 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 68,720,3372025 · WB | 3,092,8162025 · WB |
| Area | 606,410 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 824,290 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDFrance: 2025 · World BankNamibia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personFrance: 2025 · World BankNamibia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)France: 2025 · World BankNamibia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)France: 2026-09-16 · ECB deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)France: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankNamibia: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedFrance: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Insee · Published: 2026-09-30 · provisional · Provisional · National headline CPI, year-on-year, not monthly inflation or an annual average. Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionFrance: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Namibia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)France: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Namibia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)France: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Namibia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPFrance: 2025 · World BankNamibia: 2024 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeopleFrance: 2025 · World BankNamibia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceFrance: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAONamibia: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
France to Namibia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Namibia to France
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Consular registrants, including dual nationals, are not equated with all people of French ancestry. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from France living in Namibia | ||
| Residents from Namibia living in France | ||
| Study and training: France in Namibia | ||
| Study and training: Namibia in France | ||
| Academic stays: France in Namibia | ||
| Academic stays: Namibia in France | ||
| Travel: France to Namibia | ||
| Travel: Namibia to France |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
Hauts-de-France missions and ocean meetings are different channels. Consular registrants, including dual nationals, are not equated with all people of French ancestry. [1] [2]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for France is 3,366.3 billion USD (2025), compared with 15.1 for Namibia (2025). The reference populations are 68.72 and 3.09 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of France was 223.23 times that of Namibia in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [3] [4] [5] [6]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Areas of the relationship
French regional delegations add a territorial dimension. [1] [2]
Culture, training and regional networks
The Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre, inaugurated in 1991, is a binational institution. It promotes the French language, Francophonie and French and Namibian cultural expression. Contacts by an economic and academic delegation from Hauts-de-France in February 2020 and another economic delegation in October 2022 are examples of territorial cooperation. These meetings connect institutions and businesses, but do not amount to implemented investments of a specified value. [1]
Energy and ocean diplomacy
The French Development Agency has worked in Namibia since 1998, mainly on energy, the green economy and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. President Geingob's November 2016 visit to France addressed trade and investment ties; his participation in the February 2022 One Ocean Summit added a maritime dimension. These earlier events are distinct from the 2024 French visit for his funeral and are not attributed to a single economic project. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — FRA-NAM
France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Bilateral relations — FRA-NAM
France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-09-17
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07