Namibia

Overview

Namibia is a sparsely populated country in southern Africa, bordering South Africa to the south, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the east and Angola and Zambia to the north, with the western boundary of the country being the Atlantic Ocean. The northern boundary with Angola is delineated by the lower Kunene River, with approximately 13 % of the Kunene River basin falling in Namibia. The southern border with South Africa is delineated by the Lower Orange River.

Mining supports a large portion of Namibia’s economy, with tourism and service industries also contributing significantly. Agriculture is largely constrained by the availability of water, particularly in the south of the country, a region classified as arid and in some places hyper-arid.

Key indicators and data

Capital city Windhoek
Area 824 292 km²
Population (2008) 2 108 000
Population density (2001 census) 2.6 per km²
Date of independence March 21, 1990
Human Development Index (2008) 0.634; 129th out of 179 countries
Access to improved drinking water sources (2002) Urban: 98 %
Rural: 72 %
Access to Improved Sanitation (2002)

Urban: 66 %
Rural: 14 %
GDP (2008 est) US$11.59 billion (total)
US$1 600 (per capita)
Economic Growth Rate (est. 2008) 3.9 %
Primary sectors Agriculture 15.1 %
Industry 46.7 %
Services 38.2 %
Main exports: Diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, livestock
Neighbouring countries South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Land area in the Kunene River basin 14 100 km2
Percentage of the Kunene River basin 13.2 %

Sources: Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census, Globalis GVU UNEP (2009), World Factbook (2009), BBC Monitoring (2009), UNHDR (2008); World Water (2002)

 
The coat of arms of Namibia.
( click to enlarge )