This study examines private consumption behaviour in Namibia, focusing on its role as the largest component of aggregate demand. Using data from both the pre‑ and post‑independence periods, the analysis identifies current income as the primary determinant of private consumption, while finding no empirical support for life‑cycle or permanent‑income hypotheses in the Namibian context. The study concludes that future consumption levels cannot be reliably forecast from historical trends alone but must instead be based on projected values of key determinants such as disposable or per‑capita income.