Namibia

In brief

Namibia is a country in Southern Africa. Its capital is Windhoek. With 3.1 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 134th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 825,615 km². It shares land borders with Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.

GDP per capita stands at $4,876 (2025), 121st in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 67.5 years (2024). 51% of the population lives in cities.

History of Namibia

Home to the San, Nama, Herero and Ovambo, the region became German South West Africa in 1884. From 1904 to 1908 colonial troops committed genocide against the Herero and Nama, recognised by Germany in 2021. Administered after the First World War by South Africa, which imposed apartheid, Namibia won independence on 21 March 1990 after a long struggle led by SWAPO.

Geography of Namibia

The Namib Desert, one of the oldest in the world, runs along the Atlantic with the red dunes of Sossusvlei and the Skeleton Coast. The Kalahari lies to the east. Etosha National Park and the Fish River Canyon are among its great landscapes. It is one of the least densely populated countries in the world.

Map of Namibia

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Flag of Namibia

The flag of Namibia is red, white, blue and green. Its official proportions are 2:3 (height to width).

• Green32%
• Blue29%
• Red28%
• White8%
• Yellow3%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

A red diagonal band edged in white separates a blue and a green triangle; a gold sun with twelve rays shines in the corner. Blue evokes the sky and water, red the people, green the vegetation, white peace.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Namibia” and “Flag of Namibia”.

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Fact file

Economy and society