This paper set out to analyse time-series and spatial livestock data in the arid west of Namibia over a period of 11 years. These were interpreted in the context of rainfall conditions and access to water points and encompass communally and commercially managed rangelands. The study showed that stock densities maintained by both, communal and commercial farmers, were remarkably lower than estimated national-level carrying capacities for these rangelands. In the arid communal areas (50-100 mm annual rain), these hovered on average around 1 kg ha−1, increasing to 4 kg ha−1 at 100-200 mm rain and to 8 kg ha−1 in the 200-300 mm annual rain bracket in commercial areas. Stock densities showed no statistical correlation to annual rainfall, but grazer-browser ratio did in communal areas. Keywords: carrying capacity, Central Namib, desertification, desert, farming system, Namibia, range management, savanna.