Moving to Iceland from Namibia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Namibia to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Namibia to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 80°F in Windhoek, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Namibia to Iceland, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
3 ↓ 62% vs 2022

people moved from Namibia to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Namibia to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NA
12.4
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NA
22.0
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Namibia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NA
$1,068
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NA
5.4
IS
45.2

Namibia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NA
43.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NA
1.2t
IS
8.5t

Namibia generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NA
3.9
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NA
0.9%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Namibia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NA
19.4%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NA
$11,500
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Namibia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NA
66.5 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NA
29.4
IS
1.6

Iceland generally does better on family life, though Namibia leads in education spending.

Data: Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Windhoek Rain: 14.5 in/yr (368 mm)
80° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Windhoek Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 84°/63°F (29°/17°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/9°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/61°F (30°/16°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Windhoek Reykjavik
Jan 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Namibia Meteorological Service Namibia Meteorological Service, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Namibia and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.

Namibia passport

Namibia passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Namibia passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Namibia

Visa on Arrival
Iceland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Namibia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Namibia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.4 in Namibia.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Namibia?

Namibia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 5.4 in Namibia. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Namibia: 63).

What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Namibia?

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 80°F in Windhoek. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Windhoek gets 14.5 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Namibia, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana.

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At a Glance

NA IS
Population 2,727,409 357,603
Currency Namibian Dollar (NAD) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +264 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 10111 112