Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Namibia instead of Iowa, you would:

Health

live 11.0 years less

In Iowa, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Namibia, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 82.0% less money

Iowa has a GDP per capita of $63,747 as of 2024, while in Namibia, the GDP per capita is $11,500 as of 2023.

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be 5.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Iowa, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Namibia, that number is 19.4% as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 39.7% less likely to have internet access

In Iowa, approximately 87.9% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Namibia, about 53.0% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: Iowa vs. Namibia

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Namibia is 38.0% cheaper than Iowa
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Size Comparison · See true size
Iowa is about 6 times smaller than Namibia.
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Namibia: At a glance

Namibia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 823,290 sq km. South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.
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How big is Namibia compared to Iowa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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