Map of Namibia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


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.


top of page


Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 824,292 km²
Land: 823,290 km²
Water: 1,002 km²
Comparative: almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries
Total: 4,220 km
Border countries (4): (4) Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km

Coastline: 1,572 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Elevation
Highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 1,141 m

Natural resources

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.)

Irrigated land: 80 km² (2012)

Major rivers: Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought

Geography
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


top of page


Population
Total: 2,803,660 (2024 est.)
Male: 1,377,286
Female: 1,426,374
Distribution: 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
Growth rate: 1.72% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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.)
Note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 482,790/female 473,306)
15-64 years: 62% (male 846,810/female 890,099)
65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,686/female 62,969)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 61.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 55 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 15.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 22.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 22.1 years
Female: 23.5 years

Population growth rate: 1.72% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 24.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: 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

Urbanization
Urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 139 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 31 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 64.2 years
Female: 67.6 years

Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 51% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 19.2% (2024 est.); 19.4% (2023 est.); 19.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


top of page


Country name

Government type

Capital
Name: Windhoek
Geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name is an Afrikaans word meaning 'windy corner;' a local Khoikhoin chief first used the name in the 19th century and may have derived it from the name of his childhood South African village of Winterhoek

Administrative divisions: 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi
Note: the Karas region was renamed //Karas in 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Netumbo Nandi-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Head of government: President Netumbo Nandi-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Most recent election date: 27 November 2024
2024: Netumbo Nandi-NDAITWAH elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Netumbo Nandi-NDAITWAH (SWAPO) 57%, Panduleni ITULA (IPC) 26%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.10%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 4.72%, Job AMUPANDA (AR) 1.80%, Hendrik GAOBEAB (UDF) 1.16%; other 3.31%
2019: Hage GEINGOB reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, other .9%
Expected date of next election: November 2,029
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: a wide red stripe edged with narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower-left corner to upper-right corner; the upper triangle is blue and has a golden-yellow, 12-ray sunburst, and the lower triangle is green

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Namibia, Land of the Brave'
Lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
History: adopted 1991

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


top of page


Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3.7% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 5.4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.7% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 5.4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 79.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 21.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 41.6% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -68% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 7.3% (2024 est.)
Industry: 28.9% (2024 est.)
Services: 54.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 1.131 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 19.2% (2024 est.); 19.4% (2023 est.); 19.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 19.2% (2024 est.); 19.4% (2023 est.); 19.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $4.415 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $4.779 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 33% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $5.887 billion (2024 est.); $5.729 billion (2023 est.); $5.361 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $9.199 billion (2024 est.); $8.443 billion (2023 est.); $7.43 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


top of page


Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 646,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 169 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 747.409 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 56.2% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 74.8%
Access electrification - rural areas: 33.2%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 26,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Proven reserves: 62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.46 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.412 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 81,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 2.6 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 104,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)


top of page


Military expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.); 3% of GDP (2022 est.); 3% of GDP (2021 est.); 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 259 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 2,628 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 15 (2023)
By type: general cargo 1, other 14

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs