NAMIBIA IS SAFE: But levels of fear are on the rise

Three out of four Namibians consider their country a safe place to live, a recent Afrobarometer survey indicates.

The same proportion of citizens say safety and security have improved in Namibia over the past five years – even as increasing numbers report fear of crime.

More than half of Namibians say they experienced fear of crime in their homes and felt unsafe walking in their neighbourhoods during the past year.

Citizens facing a security threat are most likely to seek assistance first from the police, according to the survey. About one in four say they go to other family members first.

Theft and break-ins rank as the most serious threat to safety and security in the eyes of Namibians, followed by robberies and drugs and alcohol.

Afrobarometer surveys

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Eight survey rounds in up to 39 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 9 surveys (2021/2022) are currently underway. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.

The Afrobarometer team in Namibia, led by national partner Survey Warehouse, interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,200 adult Namibians in October and November 2021. Previous surveys were conducted in Namibia in 1999, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2019.