Namibia
Country Guide

Explore Namibia

Namibia with its capital Windhoek is located in Africa (Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 824,293 square kilometers (slightly more than half the size of Alaska) with 2,484,780 citizens. English, Afrikaans, German and Herero are the languages commonly used by the people in Namibia (consider regional differences). Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia are bordering countries.

Namibia is in Southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Zambia and the Atlantic Ocean. Namibia is similar to South Africa, and if you're used to travelling in one country, travelling in the other country is quite easy. There are some subtle differences. For example, in South Africa a non-white person may choose to speak English rather than Afrikaans (as a political choice) whereas among Namibia's mixed-race population (who call themselves 'colored' in Namibia and South Africa) Afrikaans is a proud part of their culture, and many people still speak German.

Popular Destinations in Namibia

Administrative regions of Namibia

• Erongo
• Hardap
• Karas
• Kavango East Region
• Kavango West Region
• Khomas
• Kunene
• Ohangwena
• Omaheke
• Omusati
• Oshana
• Oshikoto
• Otjozondjupa
• Zambezi Region

About the country

The landscape is mostly high plateau with Namib Desert along coast as well as Kalahari Desert in east. The average density of population is about 3 per km². The climate in Namibia can be described as deserthot, dry, rainfall sparse and erratic. Potential threats by nature are prolonged periods of drought.

To reach someone Namibia dial +264 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".na". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: D, M). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is NAD.

A wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources.

South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 35)	824,292	sq km
Land (World Rank: 34)	823,290	sq km
Water (World Rank: 110)	1,002	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 24)	46.20	%
Comparative	slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Coastline
1572
Landborder
4220
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 98)	2,573	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 75)	47.20	%
Arable (World Rank: 198)	1.00	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 24)	46.20	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 144)	80	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- desertification - land degradation has led to few conservation areas - limited natural freshwater resources - wildlife poaching
Agreement party	- Antarctic-Marine Living Resources - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Hazzards	prolonged periods of drought
Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Climate
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 142)	2,484,780
Deathrate (World Rank: 95)	0.79	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 45)	2.73	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 49)	1.95	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 46)	3.29	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 184)	20.40
Female (World Rank: 179)	21.90
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 126)	463,810
0 14 female (World Rank: 124)	454,735
15 24 male (World Rank: 134)	251,838
15 24 female (World Rank: 134)	253,823
25 54 male (World Rank: 147)	408,536
25 54 female (World Rank: 144)	445,500
55 64 male (World Rank: 154)	48,529
55 64 female (World Rank: 150)	59,543
65 x male (World Rank: 150)	41,912
65 x female (World Rank: 149)	56,554
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 55)	3.51	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 186)	64	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 188)	66	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 182)	62	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 137)	0.37
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 82)	2.70
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 177)	34.40	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 119)	17.20	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 133)	91.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 143)	1,519,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 127)	3,771,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 80)	88,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 50)	2,623,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 184)	30.10	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 24)	64.60	%
Source renew (World Rank: 86)	5.90	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 127)	25,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 121)	80	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 106)	24,700	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 145)	13	m³
Carbon footprint
4000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 7)	8	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 13)	4	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 43)	9	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 171)	-7	% of GDP
National symbol
oryx
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Namibian
Noun
Namibian(s)
Background
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.
Flag description
a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 135)	26,350,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 169)	1.10	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 130)	11,300	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 116)	6.20	%
Source industry (World Rank: 113)	25.90	%
Source service (World Rank: 78)	67.90	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 145)	939,600
In poverty (World Rank: 70)	28.70	%
Products
Industries	- beverages - copper - dairy products - diamonds - fish processing - lead - meatpacking - mining - pasta - silver - tin - tungsten - uranium - zinc
Agriculture	- fish - grapes - livestock - millet - peanuts - sorghum
Exports	- cattle - copper - diamonds - gold - lead - mollusks - uranium - white fish - zinc
Imports	- chemicals - equipment - foodstuffs - fuel - machinery - petroleum products

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 125)	187,812
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 136)	8.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 113)	109.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 138)	756,118
Population (World Rank: 154)	31.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 81)	19.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 37)	93.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 65)	2,628
Road
Total length (World Rank: 83)	44,138
Paved length (World Rank: 91)	6,387
Unpaved length (World Rank: 42)	37,751

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