(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Term | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| German South-West Africa | ||
| Agent of Adolf Lüderitz purchases Angra Pequena (Lüderitz), taking possession on 12 May 1883 | ||
| 9 April 1883 to 12 May 1883 | Heinrich Vogelsang, acting Magistrate | |
| 12 May 1883 to 24 April 1884 | Adolf Lüderitz, Magistrate | |
| German South-West Africa Protectorate | ||
| 24 April 1884 to 7 October 1884 | Adolf Lüderitz, Magistrate | |
| 7 October 1884 to May 1885 | Gustav Nachtigal, Reichskommissar | Imperial commissioner |
| May 1885 to August 1890 | Heinrich Ernst Göring, acting Reichskommissar | acting Imperial commissioner |
| August 1890 to March 1891 | Louis Nels, acting Reichskommissar | acting Imperial commissioner |
| March 1891 to 14 September 1892 | Curt von François, Reichskommissar | Imperial commissioner |
| German South-West Africa Crown Colony | ||
| 14 September 1892 to November 1893 | Curt von François, Reichskommissar | Imperial commissioner |
| November 1893 to 15 March 1894 | Curt von François, Landeshauptleute | Administrator |
| 15 March 1894 to 18 April 1898 | Theodor von Leutwein, Landeshauptleute | Administrator, acting to 27 June 1895 |
| 18 April 1898 to 19 August 1905 | Theodor von Leutwein, Governor | |
| 19 August 1905 to November 1905 | Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha, acting Governor | |
| November 1905 to 20 May 1907 | Friedrich von Lindequist, Governor | |
| 20 May 1907 to 20 June 1910 | Bruno von Schuckmann, Governor | |
| 28 August 1910 to 9 July 1915 | Theodor Seitz, Governor | |
| Occupation by South Africa | ||
| 9 July 1915 to 11 July 1915 | Louis Botha, Military Governor | |
| 11 July 1915 to 30 October 1915 | Percival Scott Beves, Military Governor | |
| 31 October 1915 to 1 October 1920 | Sir Edmond Howard Lacam Gorges, Administrator | |
| 1 October 1920 to 17 December 1920 | Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr, Administrator | |
| League of Nations Mandate (administered by South Africa) | ||
| 17 December 1920 to 1 April 1926 | Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr, Administrator | |
| 1 April 1926 to 1 April 1933 | Albertus Johannes Werth, Administrator | |
| 1 April 1933 to 1 April 1943 | David Gideon Conradie, Administrator | |
| 1 April 1943 to 11 December 1946 | Petrus Imker Hoogenhout, Administrator | |
| South Africa rejects a United Nations Trusteeship for South-West Africa | ||
| 11 December 1946 to 6 December 1951 | Petrus Imker Hoogenhout, Administrator | |
| 6 December 1951 to 1 December 1953 | Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn, Administrator | |
| 1 December 1953 to 1 December 1963 | Daniel Thomas du Plessis Viljoen, Administrator | |
| 1 December 1963 to 27 October 1966 | Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis, Administrator | |
| United Nations General Assembly terminates the mandate (Resolution 2145) and puts South-West Africa under direct UN responsibility (not recognized by South Africa) | ||
| 27 October 1966 to 1 November 1968 | Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis, Administrator | |
| 1 November 1968 to 1 November 1971 | Johannes Gert Hendrik van der Wath, Administrator | |
| 1 November 1971 to 1 September 1977 | Barend Johannes van der Walt, Administrator | |
| 1 September 1977 to 7 August 1979 | Marthinus T. Steyn, Administrator-General | |
| 7 August 1979 to 4 September 1980 | Gerrit Viljoen, Administrator-General | |
| 4 September 1980 to 1 February 1983 | Danie Hough, Administrator-General | |
| 1 February 1983 to 1 July 1985 | Willie van Niekerk, Administrator-General | |
| 1 July 1985 to 21 March 1990 | Louis Pienaar, Administrator-General | |
| 21 March 1990 | Independence as Republic of Namibia | |
For continuation after independence, see: List of Presidents of Namibia.