By: David Shoombe
The World Economic Forum (WEF), through its Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) in the Global Risks Report 2026, has identified lack of economic opportunities and unemployment among the top five risks facing Namibia in 2026.
The report further lists income and wealth inequality, rising debt levels, insufficient public services, and crime and illicit activities as persistent challenges the country is expected to face in the same period.
The WEF defines a global risk as “the possibility of the occurrence of an event or condition that would negatively impact a significant proportion of global GDP.”
A comparison with the Global Risks Report 2025 on Namibia shows that poverty and inequality (both wealth and income) previously topped the list of risks, followed by unemployment or lack of economic opportunity. However, the 2026 report reflects new realities, including water and food supply shortages from the top five risks Namibia faces.
Unemployment and lack of opportunities moving to the top position has raised concerns about the effectiveness of developmental policies aimed at creating opportunities for young people and integrating them into the mainstream economy.
The severity of limited economic opportunities is further reflected in employment data.
According to the Bank of Namibia’s Diagnostic Report on the Informal Sector, approximately 58% of Namibians are employed in the informal economy, highlighting the scarcity of formal employment opportunities.
Independent researcher Epafras Jonas has emphasised that “to address the risks outlined in the WEF Global Risks Report, Namibia must fully implement the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6) for the period 2025-2030”.
Jonas noted that economic diversification and targeted job creation are key to building economic resilience and create sustainable jobs. He also stressed that addressing corruption in the public sector would accelerate development and job creation.
According to Jonas, “The challenges facing Namibia are not new; rather, the solution lies in effectively implementing existing national plans and ensuring transparent and lawful management of national resources.”
International development practitioner Jason Amalwa stated that development in the 21st century has become increasingly complex due to the structure of the international financial system, with developing countries often caught in the crossfire of global economic power struggles.
Amalwa described Namibia as a country rich in resources and human capital, but warned that failure to adopt new approaches to addressing inequality would delay progress. He further highlighted that “emerging risks such as illicit crime and cybersecurity threats require smart policing strategies and innovative approaches to protect national resources.”
Peter Namaseb, a public management graduate and tuck shop owner, said the findings of the Global Risks Report 2026 did not come as a surprise.
“As a graduate, I lost hope in job hunting and decided to explore other avenues because waiting indefinitely is not an option,” Namaseb said.
He added that Namibian business owners should collaborate and continue empowering one another, arguing that collective effort is essential to sustaining economic activity and growth.
