Moving to Namibia from Norway

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Norway to Namibia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Norway to Namibia, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Windhoek averages 80°F vs 49°F in Oslo, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Norway to Namibia.

Living there in 2020
53 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in Norway live in Namibia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Namibia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Namibia compared to Norway.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NO
0.6
NA
12.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NO
1.5
NA
22.0

Norway performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NO
$9,523
NA
$1,068
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NO
51.7
NA
5.4

Namibia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway 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

NO
8.0
NA
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NO
7.2t
NA
1.2t

Norway generally does better on environment, though Namibia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NO
45.9
NA
3.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NO
2.0%
NA
0.9%

Norway generally does better on infrastructure, though Namibia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NO
3.6%
NA
19.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NO
$90,500
NA
$11,500

Norway 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

NO
82.5 yrs
NA
66.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NO
2.3
NA
29.4

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

Data: Norwegian Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Oslo Rain: 30.0 in/yr (763 mm)
49° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Oslo Windhoek
Jan–Mar 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C) 84°/63°F (29°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/43°F (15°/6°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/51°F (19°/10°C) 76°/49°F (24°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C) 87°/61°F (30°/16°C)
View all months
Month Oslo Windhoek
Jan 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C)
Feb 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C) 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C)
Mar 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C)
Apr 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C) 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C)
May 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C) 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C) 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C) 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C)
Aug 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C) 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C)
Sep 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C) 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C)
Oct 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C) 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C) 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C)
Dec 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C) 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C)

Data: Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Namibia Meteorological Service Namibia Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Norway passport

Norway passport holder visiting Namibia

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

Namibia passport holder visiting Norway

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Namibia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Namibia: 3.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Namibia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Namibia safe for expats?

Norway performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Namibia is 12.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Norway.

How is healthcare in Namibia compared to Norway?

Namibia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Namibia, compared to 51.7 in Norway. Namibia scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Norway: 87).

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

The average high temperature in Windhoek is 80°F, compared to 49°F in Oslo. Windhoek receives around 14.5 in of rainfall per year, while Oslo gets 30.0 in.

What language do they speak in Namibia?

The official languages in Namibia are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. In Norway, the official languages are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami.

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At a Glance

NO NA
Population 5,553,840 2,727,409
Currency Norwegian Krone (NOK) Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Languages Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +47 +264
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 10111