Namibia’s annual inflation rate decreased to 2.4% in February 2026, compared to 3.6% recorded in February 2025.
This is according to the latest Consumer Price Index report issued by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
The report shows that, while overall price increases have eased, some sectors continue to record higher inflation. The highest annual inflation rates were recorded in hotels, cafés and restaurants (4.8%), followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (4.7%).
Other divisions with relatively high inflation included health (4.0%), recreation and culture (3.9%), furnishings, household equipment and routine house maintenance (3.5%) as well as alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.4%). All other categories recorded inflation rates below 3%.
“Housing-related costs remain one of the main drivers of inflation. The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category, which makes up 28.4% of the consumer basket, recorded an annual inflation rate of 4.7% in February 2026, compared to 3.6% in February last year,” the report stated.
The increase was largely driven by higher prices for electricity, gas and other fuels, where inflation rose from 1.0% to 4.8%.
On a monthly basis, however, the housing category increased by only 0.1%, down from 1.4% in January. Food prices showed a different trend. The food and non-alcoholic beverages category, which accounts for 16.5% of the consumer basket, recorded an annual inflation rate of 1.6%, significantly lower than the 5.9% recorded in February 2025.
On a monthly basis, food prices increased by 0.5%, slightly higher than the 0.3% rise recorded in the previous month.
“Overall, Namibia recorded zero monthly inflation in February, compared to 0.8% in January. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as certain food and energy products, stood at 3.2%, higher than the headline inflation rate,” the report noted. Regional data shows that Zone 2, which includes the Khomas region, recorded the highest annual inflation rate at 3.5%.
This was followed by Zone 3, covering the Erongo region, //Kharas region, Hardap region and Omaheke region, at 2.5%.
Zone 1, which includes the Kavango East, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Zambezi regions, recorded the lowest inflation rate at 1.4%.
Price comparisons also show differences between regions.
Consumers in Zone 3 paid the highest average price for beef stew at N$113.96 per kilogramme, followed by Zone 1 at N$108.99, while Zone 2 recorded the lowest price at N$104.19. For 750 ml sunflower cooking oil, Zone 3 again recorded the highest price at N$34.79, followed by Zone 2 at N$33.99, while Zone 1 had the lowest price at N$32.78.