Namibia

Government
Name	Republic of Namibia
Government type	presidential republic
Capital	Windhoek (325,858 (2011))
Currency	Namibian dollar (NAD) South African rand (ZAR)
Organization
Member State	Commonwealth of Nations
People
Population (2020)	2,540,916 (143rd)
Density of population	3.2 P/km2 (235th)
Nationality	Namibian
Official languages
English
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	.5%
Religions
Christian (> 50% Lutheran)	80% – 90%
Indigenous beliefs	10% – 20%
Life expectancy (2020)
Male	63.3 years
Female	67.3 years
Total population	65.3 years (195th)
Homicides
Total (2012)	17.7 per 100,000 people (22nd)
Geography
Land area	823,290 km2
water area	1,002 km2
total area	824,292 km2 (35th)
Mean elevation	1,141 m
Lowest point
Atlantic Ocean	0 m
Highest point
Konigstein on Brandberg	2,573 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land	47.2%
Arable land	1%
Permanent crops	0%
Permanent pasture	46.2%
Forest	8.8%
Other	44%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)	52%
Rate of urbanization	4.2% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2017)	956,800 million  (146th)
Labor force by occupation (2013)
Agriculture	31%
Industry	14%
Services	54%
Unemployment rate (2016)	34% (210th)
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2018)
Total	$27.505 billion
Per capita	$11,516
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2018)
Total	$14.148 billion
Per capita	$5,923
GDP by sector (estimate 2016)
Agriculture	6.7%
Industry	26.3%
Services	67%
Exports (2017)	$3.995 billion (117th)
Exports partners (2017)
South Africa	27.1%
Botswana	14.9%
Switzerland	12%
Zambia	5.7%
China	4.6%
Italy	4.4%
Imports (2017)	$5.384 billion (123rd)
Imports partners (2017)
South Africa	61.4%

Namibia on the world map

Namibia top 10 largest cities (2011)

1. Windhoek (325,858)
2. Rundu (63,431)
3. Walvis Bay (62,096)
4. Swakopmund (44,725)
5. Oshakati (36,541)
6. Rehoboth (28,843)
7. Katima Mulilo (28,362)
8. Otjiwarongo (28,249)
9. Ondangwa (22,822)
10. Okahandja (22,639)

Demography

Population pyramid

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

• 0-14 years: 35.68% (male 473,937/female 464,453)
• 15-24 years: 20.27% (male 267,106/female 265,882)
• 25-54 years: 35.47% (male 449,132/female 483,811)
• 55-64 years: 4.68% (male 54,589/female 68,619)
• 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 43,596/female 58,948) 

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

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Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

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Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Major rivers

• Zambezi (2,575 km / 1,600 mi)
• Orange (2,200 km / 1,400 mi)

Economy

Agriculture:

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes, livestock, fish

Industries:

meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages, mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Exports – commodities:

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, white fish and mollusks

Imports – commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Time zone and current time in Namibia

Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Namibia