Discover Fascinating Namibia Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Namibia.

Namibia

Background

๐ŸŒ Namibia's journey began when South Africa occupied the region in 1915 during World War I. At that time, it was called German South West Africa. After decades of administration as a mandate, the region saw a brave fight for independence starting in 1966. The South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), a Marxist guerrilla group, fought tirelessly for the rights of the Namibian people. Finally, in 1990, Namibia celebrated its independence! ๐ŸŽ‰ Since then, SWAPO has been in charge, but the party has shifted away from many of its original Marxist beliefs. It's been quite a remarkable journey for this beautiful nation! ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Year of Occupation by South Africa

1915

Year of Independence for Namibia

1990

Year SWAPO's Guerrilla War Started

1966

Exports - commodities

๐ŸŒ Let's dive into what Namibia exports! ๐Ÿ โœจ The country is known for its rich resources. Here are some of the exciting commodities Namibia exports:

  • Diamonds ๐Ÿ’Ž: A sparkling gem that everyone loves!
  • Gold โšฑ๏ธ: Shiny and valuable, gold is always in demand.
  • Fish ๐ŸŸ: Namibiaโ€™s coast gives us delicious fish to enjoy!
  • Radioactive chemicals โ˜ข๏ธ: Used in many industries, but need special care.
  • Ships ๐Ÿšข: Helping with transportation on the high seas!

Each of these commodities plays a special role in Namibia's economy and helps put the country on the global map! ๐ŸŒŸ

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Namibia trades with many countries, and here's how their exports break down by partner in 2022! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Check out these cool stats!

  • South Africa: 28%
  • Botswana: 11%
  • China: 10%
  • Zambia: 5%
  • France: 4%

This pie chart below will give you a clear picture of Namibia's export partners and how much each contributes! ๐Ÿฅง

Top Export Partner

South Africa - 28%

Second Largest Export Partner

Botswana - 11%

China's Export Share

10%

Zambia's Export Share

5%

France's Export Share

4%

Namibia's Export Partners in 2022

Capital

๐ŸŒ The capital of Namibia is Windhoek! This vibrant city is not just the political center of the country but also a hub for culture, history, and economy. With beautiful landscapes and a rich heritage, Windhoek offers a unique blend of modern life and tradition. ๐Ÿ™๏ธโœจ

Imports - commodities

๐ŸŒ Did you know that Namibia imports a variety of important commodities? In 2022, the country was busy bringing in different goods to support its economy. Let's take a look at some of these key imports:

  • Refined Petroleum ๐Ÿš—: An essential for transport and energy.
  • Ships ๐Ÿšข: Helping to boost trade and transportation.
  • Copper Ore โ›๏ธ: A valuable mineral for various industries.
  • Trucks ๐Ÿšš: Necessary for logistics and moving goods.
  • Electricity โšก: Vital for homes and businesses.

These commodities play a crucial role in the everyday lives of Namibians and the overall economy! ๐Ÿ“ˆ๐Ÿ’ก

Imported commodities in 2022

Refined Petroleum, Ships, Copper Ore, Trucks, Electricity

Climate

๐ŸŒ Namibia is a fascinating country with a unique climate! It's mainly a desert climate, which means it doesn't get much rain. โ˜€๏ธ The weather is hot and dry, with sparse and erratic rainfall. This makes the landscape arid and can be quite challenging for plants and animals. ๐ŸŒต

Climate Type

Desert

Weather Description

Hot, dry

Rainfall Characteristics

Sparse and erratic

Executive branch

In Namibia, the Executive branch is currently under the leadership of Acting President Nangolo Mbumba! ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ He has been in his dual role as both chief of state and head of government since February 4, 2024. This means that he plays a significant part in the country's governance and decision-making. Let's see what's happening in the executive branch as it shapes the future of Namibia! ๐Ÿ›๏ธโœจ

Acting President since

February 4, 2024

Legislative branch

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Namibia has a bicameral Parliament, which means it has two houses that work together to make laws! ๐Ÿ“œโœจ The Parliament is made up of:

  • National Council with 42 seats ๐Ÿช‘
  • National Assembly with 104 seats ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

Together, these two bodies play a crucial role in shaping the future of Namibia!

Seats in Namibia's Parliament

Natural resources

Namibia is blessed with a treasure trove of natural resources! ๐Ÿ’Ž๐Ÿš€ Among the rich deposits, we find diamonds, copper, and uranium leading the charge as some of the most valuable minerals. The country also boasts gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, and zinc. ๐ŸŒ Don't forget about salt, hydropower, and fish, which add to Namibia's diverse economic offerings. ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŸ

Each of these resources plays a crucial role in Namibia's economy, providing jobs and contributing to the country's wealth. Think of all the exciting adventures waiting to uncover the treasures beneath the Namibian soil! ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic overview

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Namibia's Economic Snapshot! ๐ŸŒ
Namibia is classified as an upper middle-income country and has a bustling, export-driven economy. This means that the country focuses a lot on selling goods to other countries! ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿ’ฐ
One of the coolest things about Namibia is that it is rich in natural resources! ๐Ÿ’Ž This includes materials that can be used in many different industries. ๐ŸŒฟ
The Walvis Bay port is being expanded! ๐Ÿšข This is fantastic for trade and will help Namibia connect to the rest of the world even better.
There's also a lot of potential for renewable energy ๐ŸŒž, which means Namibia could create clean power and become energy-independent. This is super important for a sustainable future! ๐Ÿ’ก
Namibia is known for its stunning landscapes and wildlife, making it a major nature-based tourist destination. ๐Ÿฆ“๐ŸŒณ People from all around the globe love visiting!
However, the country faces some challenges, including a shortage of skilled labor. ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿญ This means there aren't enough workers with the right skills to do important jobs.
In summary, Namibia is a land of great opportunities and challenges! ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic Class

Upper middle-income

Type of Economy

Export-driven

Main Economic Resource

Natural resources rich

Tourism Focus

Nature-based

Labor Challenge

Shortage of skilled labor

Government type

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Namibia operates as a presidential republic! This means that the president is not just a leader but also the head of state and government. In this system, the president helps to make important decisions and guide the country. ๐ŸŒโœจ

Ethnic groups

In Namibia, the rich tapestry of ethnic groups is fascinating! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s how the population breaks down by ethnicity:

  • 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%

As you can see, the Ovambo group is the largest, making up half of the ethnic composition! Want to see how these groups compare visually? Let's take a look at a pie chart that shows the percentages of each ethnic group in Namibia. ๐Ÿฐ

Largest ethnic group

Ovambo 50%

Smallest ethnic group

Tswana 0.5%

Percentage of mixed ancestry

6.5%

Ethnic Groups in Namibia

Religions

In Namibia, a fascinating piece of information is that 97.5% of the population identifies as Christian! ๐Ÿ™ This makes it the dominant religion in the country. Additionally, there are 0.6% of people practicing other religions, including Islam, Baha'i, Judaism, and Buddhism. ๐ŸŒ Surprisingly, 1.9% of people in Namibia are unaffiliated with any religion. This shows a diverse but predominantly Christian society!

Percentage of Christians

97.5%

Percentage of Other Religions

0.6%

Percentage of Unaffiliated

1.9%

Religious Distribution in Namibia

Languages

๐ŸŒ Namibia is a land full of rich cultures and diverse languages! Let's dive into the languages spoken in this beautiful country. Hereโ€™s a fun breakdown:

  • Oshiwambo languages: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 49.7%
  • Nama/Damara: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 11%
  • Kavango languages: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 10.4%
  • Afrikaans: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 9.4%
  • Herero languages: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 9.2%
  • Zambezi languages: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 4.9%
  • English (official): ๐Ÿ›๏ธ 2.3%
  • Other African languages: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 1.5%
  • Other European languages: ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ 0.7%
  • Other: ๐Ÿ™ˆ 1%

The most spoken language in Namibia is Oshiwambo, with nearly half of the population speaking it! Isnโ€™t that amazing? ๐ŸŽ‰

Most Spoken Language

Oshiwambo languages at 49.7%

Percentage of English speakers

2.3%

Languages with less than 5% speakers

Zambezi languages, Other African languages, Other European languages, Other

Language Distribution in Namibia

Imports - partners

Namibia relies heavily on imports from various countries! ๐ŸŒ In 2022, hereโ€™s how its trading partners stacked up:

  • South Africa: 41% ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • China: 7% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Nigeria: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ
  • India: 4% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • UAE: 4% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช

As you can see, South Africa is the biggest player in Namibia's import game, making up nearly half of its imports! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

Total Percentage of Top 5 Partners

61%

Namibia's Import Partners in 2022

Population

๐ŸŒ Namibia has a total population of 2,803,660 people! That's a big family living in this beautiful country! Each person adds to the rich culture and diversity of Namibia. ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Total Population of Namibia

2,803,660

Area

๐ŸŒ Namibia's Area Overview ๐ŸŒ

Namibia is a big country! It covers a total area of 824,292 square kilometers. Let's break it down:

  • Land Area: Most of Namibia, 823,290 square kilometers, is covered by land. That's a whole lot of room for animals, plants, and people!
  • Water Area: Just a small part, 1,002 square kilometers, of Namibia is made up of water. Think of all the cool rivers and lakes that fit into that!

Isn't it fascinating how much land and water we can find in Namibia? ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒณ

Total Area

824292 sq km

Land Area

823290 sq km

Water Area

1002 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿฆ Real GDP of Namibia

Namibia's economy has been experiencing some growth! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at the estimated Real GDP (purchasing power parity) over the last few years:

  • 2021: $27.288 billion
  • 2022: $28.748 billion
  • 2023: $29.944 billion

As you can see, Namibia's GDP has steadily increased from 2021 to 2023, showing positive economic progress over the years! ๐ŸŒŸ

GDP in 2021

27.288 billion USD

GDP in 2022

28.748 billion USD

GDP in 2023

29.944 billion USD

Namibia Real GDP (PPP) Over Time

Real GDP per capita

๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at Namibia's Real GDP per capita over the last few years! This number tells us how much money, on average, each person would have if the country's total wealth was shared equally.

Here are the estimates for the last three years:

  • 2021: $10,800
  • 2022: $11,200
  • 2023: $11,500

As we can see, the GDP per capita has been growing steadily ๐Ÿ“ˆ, which is great news for the country's economy! This could mean better opportunities and living standards for the people of Namibia.

Now, let's visualize this data! ๐ŸŽ‰

Real GDP per Capita in 2023

$11,500

Real GDP per Capita in 2022

$11,200

Real GDP per Capita in 2021

$10,800

Real GDP per Capita in Namibia (2021-2023)

Imports

๐Ÿ“Š Namibia's Imports Over the Past Three Years ๐Ÿšข

Namibia has been busy trading with the world! Let's take a look at how much the country imported over the last few years.

  • In 2021, Namibia imported $6.467 billion.
  • By 2022, this amount grew to $7.423 billion! ๐ŸŽ‰
  • And in 2023, it's estimated that imports will reach $8.281 billion. That's quite an increase! ๐Ÿš€

These numbers show a steady growth in Namibia's imports. More goods mean more opportunities and a thriving economy! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ต

Estimated Imports in 2023

$8.281 billion

Estimated Imports in 2022

$7.423 billion

Estimated Imports in 2021

$6.467 billion

Namibia's Import Trends (2021-2023)

Exports

๐ŸŒ Namibia's Exports Over the Years ๐Ÿ—๏ธ

Namibia's export values have shown a tremendous growth trend in recent years! Here's a breakdown of the export values for the past three years:

  • 2021: $4.341 billion
  • 2022: $5.314 billion
  • 2023: $5.641 billion

As you can see, Namibia's exports have increased significantly from 2021 to 2023! ๐Ÿ“ˆ This shows how the country is making strides in its trading efforts, contributing to economic growth and development. Let's visualize this data for a clearer picture!

Export Value in 2023

$5.641 billion

Export Value in 2022

$5.314 billion

Export Value in 2021

$4.341 billion

Namibia's Export Growth (2021 - 2023)

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ Did you know that Namibia is experiencing a population growth rate of 1.72% in 2024? This means more people are calling this beautiful country home! ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ The growth rate reflects not just the number of people living in Namibia but also the positive changes in health, education, and wellness that encourage families to grow. ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Population Growth Rate for 2024

1.72%