Namibia Travel Podcast with Helena Shipanga

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Terrain

Mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Climate

Desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Elevation

Highest point

Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

1,141 m

Area

Total

824,292 sq km

Land

823,290 sq km

Water

1,002 sq km

Size comparison

Almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Coastline

1,572 km

Land borders

Total

4,220 km

Border countries

Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km

Natural resources

Diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish

Land use

Agricultural land

47.1% (2023 est.)

Arable land

1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

46.2% (2023 est.)

Forest

9.8% (2023 est.)

Other

43.1% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Prolonged periods of drought

Note

The Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

Population

Total

2,852,777 (2025 est.)

Male

1,402,136

Female

1,450,641

Nationality

Noun

Namibian(s)

Adjective

Namibian

Ethnic groups

Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Languages

Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4%, Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)

Religions

Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)

Median age

Total

23.1 years (2025 est.)

Male

22.1 years

Female

23.5 years

Life expectancy

Total population

65.9 years (2024 est.)

Male

64.2 years

Female

67.6 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

54.9% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

Population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map

Largest cities

477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)

Background

Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 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 gained independence in 1990, and SWAPO has governed it since, although the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected 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. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority, and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament.

Government

Presidential republic

Capital

Windhoek

Time zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Republic of Namibia

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National day

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Overview

Upper middle-income, export-driven Sub-Saharan economy; natural resource rich; Walvis Bay port expansion for trade; high potential for renewable power generation and energy independence; major nature-based tourist locale; natural resource rich; shortage of skilled labor

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$10,300 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$10,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$10,000 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

19.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

19.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

19.7% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

18.329 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

18.446 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

16.356 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

14.779 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

16.463 (2020 est.)

Main industries

Mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture

Agriculture

Root vegetables, milk, maize, beef, grapes, onions, wheat, fruits, pulses, vegetables (2023)

Airports

259 (2025)

Railways

Total

2,628 km (2014)

Narrow gauge

2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Ports

Total ports

2 (2024)

Large

0

Medium

0

Small

2

Very small

0

Ports with oil terminals

2

Key ports

Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay

Internet domain

.na

Internet users

Percent of population 64% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

2.58 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

85 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity; wildlife poaching

Fresh water

39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)