Within the framework of German - Namibian technical cooperation, a national magnetic data set was compiled from 41 different airborne magnetic surveys flown in Namibia during the past three decades. The magnetic data set is available as both coloured contour maps (scales 1 : 250 000 and 1 : 1 000 000) and digital grids with varying cell sizes ( 2 000 m, 500 m, 200 m). Shield areas, mobile belts and anorogenic intrusions dominate the magnetic anomaly pattern of Namibia. The mobile belts are characterized by parallel-running narrow (<100 km) magnetic and virtually non-magnetic zones. Shield areas, covered by a thick sequence of mostly non-magnetic Proterozoic and Paleozoic sediments, are distinguished by broad, mid-amplitude anomalies with low gradients. Modelling of two regional magnetic profiles crossing the Damaran fold belt has provided additional insights into its nature and structure. Evidence for the association of mostly epigenetic mineralization, occurring close to or immediately on magnetic lineations, with the general linear magnetic pattern is presented. This may prove to be a new successful tool to prospect the mineral wealth of Namibia.