Women in Namibia
| General statistics | |
|---|---|
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 195 (2017) |
| Women in parliament | 44.2% (2021) |
| Women over 25 with secondary education | 39.9% |
| Women in labour force | 58.5% (2017) |
| Gender Inequality Index | |
| Value | 0.445 (2021) |
| Rank | 111st out of 191 |
| Global Gender Gap Index | |
| Value | 0.807 (2022) |
| Rank | 8th out of 146 |
Women in Namibia face challenges in their health, gender based violence, and access to education. The government of Namibia is taking steps to provide women with equal rights to a degree that is largely unparalleled in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the promise of gender equality and increased parliament representation in the Namibian constitution. Women currently serve in nearly half of all seats in parliament and the first female Prime Minister was elected in 2015. The country's first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was elected in 2024. In addition, the country's first female speaker was elected in 2025. Namibia currently has a female president, vice president, and speaker.