NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Namibia

¹ German and Afrikaans were official languages until independence in 1990. The majority of the population speaks Afrikaans as a second language, while Oshiwambo is the first language of approximately half the population. German is spoken by 32% of the European community whereas English is only spoken by 7%.^[1] Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in southern Africa on the Atlantic coast. It shares borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the south. It gained independence from South Africa in 1990 and its capital city is Windhoek (German: Windhuk). Namibia is a member state of the United Nations (UN), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the Commonwealth of Nations. It is named after the Namib Desert. Image File history File links Flag_of_Namibia. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of Namibia was adopted on March 21, 1990. ... The Coat of Arms of Namibia is full of national symbols. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Namibia, Land of the Brave is the national anthem of Namibia. ... Image File history File links LocationNamibia. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Namibians are of diverse ethnic origins. ... --193. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A regional language is a language spoken in a part of a country, be it may be a small area, a federal state or province, or a wider area. ... Look up Appendix:Afrikaans and Dutch Swadesh lists in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Ovambo culture is a unique and interesting society. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Namibia. ... Hifikepunye Pohamba Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba (born August 18, 1935) is the second and current President of Namibia. ... Prime minister of Namibia - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Nahas Angula Nahas Gideon Angula (born 1943) is the current Prime Minister of Namibia since March 21, 2005. ... is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 kmÂ² and 1,000,000 kmÂ². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... Graphical representation of the Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth distribution. ... World map of the Gini coefficient This is a list of countries or dependencies by Income inequality metrics, sorted in ascending order according to their Gini coefficient. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... The Namibian dollar (abbreviated N$ or NAD) is the national currency of Namibia, adopted in 1993. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Africa: Striped colours indicate countries observing daylight saving West Africa Time, or WAT, is a time zone used in western and west-central Africa (though not in countries west of Benin, which instead use GMT). ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Time zones of Africa: Striped colours indicate countries observing daylight saving West Africa Time, or WAT, is a time zone used in western and west-central Africa (though not in countries west of Benin, which instead use GMT). ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .na is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Namibia. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Look up Appendix:Afrikaans and Dutch Swadesh lists in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the year. ... A second language (L2) is any language learned after the first language or mother tongue (L1). ... The Ovambo culture is a unique and interesting society. ... â€œNative Languageâ€ redirects here. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | Southern Africa ... Atlantic and North Atlantic redirect here. ... This article is about the year. ... --193. ... UN redirects here. ... SADC-only (yellow) and SADC+SACU members Headquarters Gaborone, Botswana Working languages Membership 15 African states Leaders - Secretary General Establishment - as the SADCC April 1, 1980 - as the SADC August 17, 1992 Website http://www. ... Anthem Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together [1] Administrative Centre Working languages Arabic English Spanish French Portuguese Swahili Membership 53 African states Leaders - Chairman Jakaya Kikwete - Jean Ping Establishment - as the OAU May 25, 1963 - as the African Union July 9, 2002 Area - Total 29,757,900 kmÂ² (1st1... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2008. ... Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ...

1 History
2 Regions and constituencies
3 Geography
4 Economy
5 Tourism
6 Language
7 Politics
8 Communal Wildlife Conservancies
9 Sports
10 Demographics
11 Religion
12 HIV / AIDS in Namibia
13 Foreign relations
- 13.1 International disputes
14 Military
15 See also
16 References
17 External links

History

Main article: History of Namibia

The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, Namaqua, and since about the 14th century AD, by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. The region was not extensively explored by Europeans until the 19th century. Namibia became a German colony and was known as German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika^[2]) — apart from Walvis Bay, which was under British control. South Africa occupied the colony during World War I and administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory until after World War II, when it unilaterally annexed the territory, without international recognition. The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages, and Namibia has really only existed as a modern state since South Africa relinquished control of the country in 1989. ... |group = Bushmen |image = |poptime = 82,000 |popplace = Botswana (55,000), Namibia (27,000) |rels = San Religion |langs = various Khoisan languages |related = Khoikhoi, Xhosa, Zulu, Griqua }} The Bushmen, San, Basarwa, ÇƒKung or Khwe are indigenous people of the Kalahari Desert, which spans areas of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. ... The Damara are a people who live in Namibia. ... Nama (in older sourses also Namaqua) are a pastoral people of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana speaking the Nama language which belongs to the Khoe-Kwadi language family (previously known as Central Khoisan). ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (light brown) vs. ... The Bantu refer to over 400 different ethnic groups in Africa, from Cameroon to South Africa, united by a common language family, the Bantu languages, and in many cases common customs. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag German South-West Africa (black), other German colonies in red Capital Windhoek (from 1891) Political structure Colony Governor - 1898-1905 Theodor von Leutwein - 1905-1907 Friedrich von Lindequist - 1907-1910 Bruno von Schuckmann - 1910-1915 Theodor Seitz Historical era The Scramble for Africa - Established 7 August, 1884 - Genocide 1904... Walvis Bay, Namibia Walvis Bay, (Dutch/Afrikaans Walvisbaai, meaning Whale Bay), is an area in Namibia with a checkered history. ... South-West Africa is the former name (1884-1990) of Namibia under German (as German South-West Africa, Deutsch Süd-West Afrika) and (from 1915) South African administration when it was conqured from the Germans during World War I. Following the war, the Treaty of Versailles declared the territory... â€œThe Great War â€ redirects here. ... 1939â€“1941 semi-official emblem Anachronous world map in 1920â€“1945, showing the League of Nations and the world Capital Not applicableÂ¹ Language(s) English, French and Spanish Political structure International organization Secretary-general - 1920â€“1933 Sir James Eric Drummond - 1933â€“1940 Joseph Avenol - 1940â€“1946 SeÃ¡n Lester Historical... League of Nations mandates were territories established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 28 June 1919. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

In 1966 ,the South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) military wing, People's Liberation Army of Namibia, a guerrilla group launched a war of independence, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration of Namibia, in accordance with a United Nations peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990, and Walvis Bay was ceded to Namibia in 1994 upon the end of Apartheid in South Africa. The South West Africa Peoples Organisation (SWAPO) is a political party and former liberation movement in Namibia. ... Guerrilla redirects here. ... The Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the Marxist South-West Africa Peoples Organization (SWAPO) and others fought against South Africa; South Africa had administered what was then still known as South West Africa since it was allowed to do... UN redirects here. ... Walvis Bay, Namibia Walvis Bay, (Dutch/Afrikaans Walvisbaai, meaning Whale Bay), is an area in Namibia with a checkered history. ... A beach, in apartheid South Africa, 1982. ...

Regions and constituencies

Main articles: Regions of Namibia and Constituencies of Namibia

Namibia is divided into 13 regions and subdivided into 102 constituencies. Namibia is divided into 13 regions: Caprivi Erongo Hardap Karas Kavango Khomas Kunene Ohangwena Omaheke Omusati Oshana Oshikoto Otjozondjupa Categories: Lists of subnational entities | Regions of Namibia ... Each of the 12 regions in Namibia is further subdivided into a constituency. ... A region can be any area that has some unifying feature. ...

Area: 161,325 kmÂ² (62,288 miÂ²) Population: 69,677 Population density 0. ... Location: Caprivi, Namibia Area: 19,532km² (7,541 mi²) Population: 79,852 (2001), 90,422 (1991) Capital: Katima Mulilo Time Zone: South African Standard Time: UTC+1 Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip or Caprivi Region and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about 450km... Area: 13,638 km² (5,265 mi²) Population: 228,364 (2001), 189,919 (1991) Population density 16. ... Area: 26,607 kmÂ² (10,273 miÂ²) Population: 160,788 (2001), 128,745 (1991) Population density 6. ... Area: 10,582 kmÂ² (4,086 miÂ²) Population: 227,728 (2001), 179,634 (1991) Population density 21. ... Area: 109,888 kmÂ² (42,428 miÂ²) Population: 67,998 (2001), 66,495 (1991) Population density 1. ... Area: 144,255 kmÂ² (55,697 miÂ²) Population: 68,244 (2001), 64,017 (1991) Population density 0. ... Area: 63,720 kmÂ² (24,602 miÂ²) Population: 107,629 (2001), 55,470 (1991) Population density 1. ... Area: 84,732 km² (32,715 mi²) Population: 67,496 (2001), 52,735 (1991) Population density 0. ... Area: 36,805 kmÂ² (14,210 miÂ²) Population: 250,305 (2001), 167,071 (1991) Population density 6. ... Area: 43,418 km² (16,764 mi²) Population: 201,093 (2001), 116,830 (1991) Population density 4. ...

Geography

A detailed map of Namibia, based on radar images from The Map Library.

Dune in Namibia.

Namib Desert.

Petroglyphs near Twyfelfontein.

Fish River Canyon.

Quivertree forest.

Roter Kamm crater, in the Namib Desert (Landsat image)

Main articles: Geography of Namibia and Towns in Namibia

At 825.418 km² (318.7 sq mi)^[3], Namibia is the world's thirty-fourth largest country (after Venezuela). After Mongolia, Namibia is the least densely populated country in the world (2.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (6.5 /sq mi)). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1626x1443, 448 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Namibia Geography of Namibia List of cities and towns in Namibia Metadata This file contains additional information, probably... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1626x1443, 448 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Namibia Geography of Namibia List of cities and towns in Namibia Metadata This file contains additional information, probably... Satellite image of Congo, generated from raster graphics data supplied by The Map Library. ... Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ... For other uses, see Petroglyph (disambiguation). ... Twyfelfontein is a site in the Kunene Region of Namibia containing 2,000 figures of rock carvings. ... Roter Kamm impact crater Roter Kamm is a meteorite crater in Namibia. ... The Landsat program is the longest running enterprise for acqusition of imagery of Earth from space. ... Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km Land boundaries: total: 3,824 km border countries: Angola 1,376... Namibia This is a list of cities and towns in Namibia: // Cities Windhoek - rail junction Walvis Bay - port - railhead Luderitz - port - railhead Angra PequeÃ±a Gobabis Grootfontein - railhead Katima Mulilo Keetmanshoop LÃ¼deritz - port - railhead Oranjemund Swakopmund - rail Tsumeb - railway being extended 2005 Towns Oshikango - railway under construction 2005 Oshakati... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol kmÂ², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ...

The Namibian landscape consists generally of five geographical areas, each with characteristic abiotic conditions and vegetation with some variation within and overlap between them: the Central Plateau, the Namib Desert, the Escarpment, the Bushveld, and the Kalahari Desert. Although the climate is generally extremely dry, there are a few exceptions. The cold, north-flowing Benguela current accounts for some of the low precipitation. Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... The Bushveld is a geographic region of South Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and part of the North West Province. ... Kalahari redirects here. ... The frigid waters of the north-flowing Benguela current move from the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica along the west coast of Africa as far as Angola. ...

The Central Plateau runs from north to south, bordered by the Skeleton Coast to the north west, the Namib Desert and its coastal plains to the south west, the Orange River to the south, and the Kalahari Desert to the east. The Central Plateau is home to the highest point in Namibia at Königstein elevation 2,606 meters (8,550 ft).^[4] Within the wide, flat Central Plateau is the majority of Namibia’s population and economic activity. Windhoek, the nation’s capital, is located here, as well as most of the arable land. Although arable land accounts for only 1% of Namibia, nearly half of the population is employed in agriculture.^[5] The Skeleton Coast is located on the west coast of Namibia, where the upwelling of the cold Benguela current gives rise to dense ocean fogs for much of the year. ... Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ... The Orange River (Afrikaans/Dutch: Oranjerivier), Gariep River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. ... Kalahari redirects here. ... Landsat 7 image of the Brandberg Massif The Brandberg (Herero: Omukuruvaro), is Namibias highest mountain, and is located in Damaraland, in the northwestern Namib Desert, near the coast, and covers an area of approximately 650 kmÂ².[1] With its highest point, the KÃ¶nigstein (German for Kings Stone... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, â€² â€“ a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... --193. ...

The abiotic conditions here are similar to those found along the Escarpment, described below; however the topographic complexity is reduced. Summer temperatures in the area can reach 40°C during the summer, and in the winter, frosts are common.

The Namib Desert is a broad expanse of hyper-arid gravel plains and dunes that stretches along the entire coastline, which varies in width between 100 to many hundreds of kilometres. Areas within the Namib include the Skeleton Coast and the Kaokoveld in the north and the extensive Namib Sand Sea along the central coast.^[6] The sands that make up the sand sea are a consequence of erosional processes that take place within the Orange River valley and areas further to the south. As sand-laden waters drop their suspended loads into the Atlantic, onshore currents deposit them along the shore. The prevailing south west winds then pick up and redeposit the sand in the form of massive dunes in the widespread sand sea. In areas where the supply of sand is reduced because of the inability of the sand to cross riverbeds, the winds also scour the land to form large gravel plains. In many areas within the Namib Desert, there is little vegetation with the exception of lichens found in the gravel plains, and in dry river beds where plants can access subterranean water. Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ... The Skeleton Coast is located on the west coast of Namibia, where the upwelling of the cold Benguela current gives rise to dense ocean fogs for much of the year. ... The Orange River (Afrikaans/Dutch: Oranjerivier), Gariep River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ...

Namibian Escarpment.

The Great Escarpment swiftly rises to over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft). Average temperatures and temperature ranges increase as you move further inland from the cold Atlantic waters, while the lingering coastal fogs slowly diminish. Although the area is rocky with poorly developed soils, it is nonetheless significantly more productive than the Namib Desert. As summer winds are forced over the Escarpment, moisture is extracted as precipitation.^[7] The water, along with rapidly changing topography, is responsible for the creation of microhabitats which offer a wide range of organisms, many of them endemic. Vegetation along the Escarpment varies in both form and density, with community structure ranging from dense woodlands to more shrubby areas with scattered trees. A number of Acacia species are found here, as well as grasses and other shrubby vegetation. In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world (ca. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... For other uses, see Acacia (disambiguation). ...

The Bushveld is found in north eastern Namibia along the Angolan border and in the Caprivi Strip which is the vestige of a narrow corridor demarcated for the German Empire to access the Zambezi River. The area receives a significantly greater amount of precipitation than the rest of the county, averaging around 400 millimetres per year. Temperatures are also cooler and more moderate, with approximate seasonal variations of between 10 °C (50 °F) and 30 °C (90 °F). The area is generally flat and the soils sandy, limiting their ability to retain water.^[8] Located adjacent to the Bushveld in north-central Namibia is one of nature’s most spectacular features: the Etosha Pan. For most of the year it is a dry, saline wasteland, but during the wet season, it forms a shallow lake covering more than 6000 square kilometres. The area is ecologically important and vital to the huge numbers of birds and animals from the surrounding savannah that gather in the region as summer drought forces them to the scattered waterholes that ring the pan. The Bushveld is a geographic region of South Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and part of the North West Province. ... Location: Caprivi, Namibia Area: 19,532km (7,541 mi ) Population: 79,852 (2001), 90,422 (1991) Capital: Katima Mulilo Time Zone: South African Standard Time: UTC+1 Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip or Caprivi Region and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about 450km... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ... Zambezi River in North Western Zambia The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is a river in Southern Africa. ... The Bushveld is a geographic region of South Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and part of the North West Province. ... The Etosha pan is a large salt pan in the north of Namibia. ... Savannah redirects here. ...

The Kalahari Desert is perhaps Namibia’s best known geographical feature. Shared with South Africa and Botswana, it has a variety of localized environments ranging from hyper-arid sandy desert, to areas that seem to defy the common definition of desert. One of these areas, known as the Succulent Karoo, is home to over 5,000 species of plants, nearly half of them endemic; fully one third of the world’s succulents are found in the Karoo. Kalahari redirects here. ... Map of the two Karoo ecoregions as delineated by the WWF. Satellite image from NASA. The yellow line encloses the two ecoregions. ...

Namibian sunset.

The reason behind this high productivity and endemism may be the relatively stable nature of precipitation^[9]The Karoo apparently does not experience drought on a regular basis, so even though the area is technically desert, regular winter rains provide enough moisture to support the region’s interesting plant community. Another feature of the Kalahari, indeed many parts of Namibia, are Inselbergs, isolated mountains that create microclimates and habitat for organisms not adapted to life in the surrounding desert matrix. The Kalahari Desert is a large, arid to semi-arid sandy area in southern Africa that covers about 500,000 km². It covers 70% of Botswana, and parts of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. ...

Besides the capital city Windhoek in the centre of the country, other important towns are the ports of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, as well as Oshakati and Grootfontein. Walvis Bay, Namibia Walvis Bay, (Dutch/Afrikaans Walvisbaai, meaning Whale Bay), is an area in Namibia with a checkered history. ... Swakopmund is a city in Namibia, with around 35,000 inhabitants. ... Oshakati is a capital city of Oshana Region, Namibia. ... Grootfontein, Namibia Grootfontein is a city in north eastern Namibia. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Namibia

Namibia’s economy consists primarily of mining and manufacturing which represent 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) respectively^[10]. Namibia has a 30-40% unemployment rate and recently passed a 2004 labour act to protect people from job discrimination stemming from pregnancy and HIV/AIDS status. Namibia’s economy is tied closely to South Africa’s due to their shared history.^[11]^[12] The Central Plateau serves as a transportation corridor from the more densely populated north to South Africa, the source of four-fifths of Namibia’s imports.^[5] Namibia is the fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth largest producer of uranium. There has been significant investment in uranium mining and Namibia is set to become the largest exporter of uranium by 2015. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. About half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood, but Namibia must still import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is five times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorest countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in rural areas and exist on a subsistence way of life. Namibia has one of the highest rates of income inequality in the world, due in part to the fact that there is an urban economy and a more rural cash-less economy. The inequality figures thus take into account people who do not actually rely on the formal economy for their survival. Agreement has been reached on the privatisation of several more enterprises in coming years, with hopes that this will stimulate much needed foreign investment. However, reinvestment of environmentally derived capital has hobbled Namibian per capita income.^[13] One of the fastest growing areas of economic development in Namibia is the growth of wildlife conservancies. These conservancies are particularly important to the rural generally unemployed population. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... This article is about the mineral. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... This article is about the metallic chemical element. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... For other uses, see Tungsten (disambiguation). ... Like most farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, this Cameroonian man cultivates at the subsistence level. ... World map of the Gini coefficient This is a list of countries or dependencies by Income inequality metrics, sorted in ascending order according to their Gini coefficient. ... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ...

Child labour occurs in Namibia, and key stakeholders including government ministries endorsed the Action Programme towards the Elimination of Child Labour in January 2008.^[14] Child labour or labor is the phenomenon of children in employment. ...

For more information on this subject, see Child labour in Namibia Namibia ratified both the ILO Minimum Age Convention (C138) and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (C182) in 2000. ...

Tourism

Windhoek skyline.

Main article: Tourism in Namibia

Namibia generally attracts eco-tourists with the majority visiting to experience the different climates and natural geographical landscapes such as the great eastern desert and plains. There are many lodges and reserves to accommodate eco-tourists. Image File history File links Windhoek-Skyline. ... Image File history File links Windhoek-Skyline. ... Tapanti National Park in Costa Rica Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. ...

The most visited regions include, although are not limited to, the Sossosvlei, Etosha Park and the coastal activity areas of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Language

Until 1990,the official languages were German, Afrikaans and English. This article is about the year. ... Look up Appendix:Afrikaans and Dutch Swadesh lists in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

When Namibia became independent of South Africa, the new Namibian goverment wanted to avoid accusations of preferential treatment for either the Afrikaans- or the German-speaking groups. Therefore, English became the sole official language of Namibia. German, Afrikaans and Oshiwambo became recognised regional languages.

German is the native language of 30,000 Germans living in Namibia. It is also spoken as a second language by a large group of the white population. A part of the black population also speak German as a second language, although it is used primarily for trading purposes.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Namibia

The politics of Namibia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Namibia is elected to a five year term and is both the head of state and the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the bicameral Parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.^[11]^[12] The Constituent Assembly of Namibia produced a constitution which established a multi-party system and a bill of rights. ... A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term) separately from the legislature, to which it is not accountable and which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. ... Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Namibia. ... For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... The head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... A multi-party system is a type of party system. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... The Parliament of Namibia consists of two chambers: The National Council (Upper Chamber) The National Assembly (Lower Chamber) Categories: | | | | ... The National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the countrys bicameral Parliament. ... The National Council of Namibia is the upper chamber of the countrys bicameral Parliament. ... In the law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

Communal Wildlife Conservancies

Main article: Communal Wildlife Conservancies in Namibia

Namibia is the only country in the world to specifically address conservation and protection of natural resources in its constitution.^[15] Article 95 states, “The State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting international policies aimed at the following: maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity of Namibia, and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future.”^[15] cheese ... Natural resources are commodities that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified (natural) form. ... For the journal, see Ecology (journal). ...

In 1993, the newly formed government of Namibia received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Living in a Finite Environment (LIFE) Project.^[16] The Ministry of Environment and Tourism with the financial support from organizations such as USAID, Endangered Wildlife Trust, WWF, and Canadian Ambassador’s Fund, together form a Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) support structure. The main goal of this project is promote sustainable natural resource management by giving local communities rights to wildlife management and tourism.^[17] Namibia is home to the African bull snake USAID logo The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the U.S. government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. ... The Endangered Wildlife Trust ia a South African environmental organisation for the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa. ... The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization for the conservation, research and restoration of the natural environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada. ...

Sports

The most popular sport in Namibia is association football (soccer). Rugby union and cricket are also popular. Namibia were participants in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. They also played in the 2003 Cricket World Cup. â€œSoccerâ€ redirects here. ... Soccer redirects here. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... This article is about the sport. ... The 1999 Rugby World Cup, the first to be held in rugby unions professional era,[2] was hosted by Wales, with some matches also played in England, France, Scotland and Ireland. ... The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth rugby union world cup. ... The 2007 Rugby World Cup is the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. ... For the rugby league competition, see Rugby League World Cup. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Demographics

A group of Herero women, Windhoek, Namibia

A group of Himba women, near Opuwo, Namibia

A Himba teenager, north of Opuwo, Namibia

Main article: Demographics of Namibia

Among the sovereign countries with the lowest population density, Namibia lies in second place, after Mongolia. The majority of the Namibian population is Black African — mostly of the Ovambo ethnicity, which forms about half of the population — and concentrated in the north of the country. There are also the Herero and Himba people who speak a similar language. In addition to the Bantu majority, there are large groups of Khoisan (e.g. Nama and Bushmen), who are descendants of the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. Khoisan differ significantly in appearance from both Bantu and White Africans. Blacks of other Bantu descent are descendants of refugees from Angola. There are also two smaller groups of people with mixed racial origins, called "Coloureds" and "Basters", who together make up 8% (with the Coloureds outnumbering the Basters two to one). Whites of Portuguese, Dutch, German, British and French ancestry make up about 5% of the population (about 85,000) — which is the second largest proportion and number in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa. Most of Namibian whites and nearly all those of mixed race are Afrikaans speakers and share similar origins, culture, religion and genealogy as the white and coloured populations of neighbouring South Africa. A smaller proportion of whites (around 13,000) trace their family origins directly back to German settlers and maintain German cultural and educational institutions. Nearly all Portuguese are miners and settlers from their former colony of Angola^{[citation needed]}. Image File history File links Herero_women. ... Image File history File links Herero_women. ... Image File history File links Himba_women. ... Image File history File links Himba_women. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1000 Ã— 750 pixel, file size: 457 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) olivier PEYRE, http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1000 Ã— 750 pixel, file size: 457 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) olivier PEYRE, http://www. ... Namibians are of diverse ethnic origins. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... Though most indigenous Africans possess relatively dark skin, they exhibit much variation in physical appearance. ... A group of Herero women. ... Two Himba women near Opuwo, Namibia The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people[1], living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region (formerly Kaokoland). ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (light brown) vs. ... Khoisan (increasingly commonly spelled Khoesan or Khoe-San) is the name for two major ethnic groups of southern Africa. ... NÃ mÃ¡, previously called Hottentot, is the most populous and widespread of the Khoisan languages. ... |group = Bushmen |image = |poptime = 82,000 |popplace = Botswana (55,000), Namibia (27,000) |rels = San Religion |langs = various Khoisan languages |related = Khoikhoi, Xhosa, Zulu, Griqua }} The Bushmen, San, Basarwa, ÇƒKung or Khwe are indigenous people of the Kalahari Desert, which spans areas of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (light brown) vs. ... White African people are descendants of Europeans who settled on the continent of Africa under colonial rule. ... In the South African context, the term Coloured refers to various people of mixed Bantu, Khoisan, and European descent (with some Malay or Indian ancestry, especially in the Western Cape) together with some racially pure Khoisans. ... The Basters (also known as Baasters or Rehoboth Basters) are the descendents of liaisons between the Cape Colony Dutch and indigenous African women. ... The Dutch (Ethnonym: Nederlanders meaning Lowlanders) are the dominant ethnic group[1] of the Netherlands[2]. They are usually seen as a Germanic people. ... A stereotypical German The Germans (German: die Deutschen), or the German people, are a nation in the meaning an ethnos (in German: Volk), defined more by a sense of sharing a common German culture and having a German mother tongue, than by citizenship or by being subjects to any particular... Look up Appendix:Afrikaans and Dutch Swadesh lists in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Half of all Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language, whereas the most widely understood languages are Afrikaans and German. Among the younger generation, the most widely understood language is English. The Ovambo cult

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