Country data

Location: South Africa

Time zone: CET + 1

Total area: 824,292 km²

Land area: 823,290 km²

Water area: 1,002 km²

Length of the state border: 3,936 km

Bordering countries:
Angola: 1,376 km
Botswana: 1,360 km
Zambia: 233 km
South Africa: 967 km

Coastline: 1,572 km

Capital: Windhoek

Regions: 14
Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi

Telephone code: 00 264 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Königstein 2,606 m

Population

Population: approx. 2.2 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.7% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 3

Life expectancy: 52 (male), 51 (female)

Official language: English

Religions:

• 80% Christian
• 20% other

Climate

The seasons in Namibia are opposite to those in Europe.

In summer, which lasts from November to February, it is very warm and very dry at the beginning. The main rainy season begins at the beginning of January and lasts until mid-March.

The winter months from June to the end of August are very mild during the day. During the night, however, it can cool down very strongly, so that sometimes extreme temperature differences can occur within just a few hours.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Namibia dollar (NAD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: There are few machines available in the big cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: The import and export of the local currency is limited to 2,000 NAD. An unlimited amount of foreign currencies can be imported and exported up to the amount of the declared import.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• small quantities of tobacco products
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

The exemption limits are valid for a period of 30 days when entering any country in the South African Customs Union.

The following articles and goods may not be imported or exported:

• drug
• Drugs
• living animals
• flesh
• Plants and plant seeds
• agricultural products of all kinds
• pornographic writings / materials

Travel advice

The border with Angola is not or only very poorly marked in various places.

Anyone who illegally crosses this border, even for a few meters, can expect to be arrested by the police.

Subsequent fines and prison sentences are the rule.

Behavioral advice

After dark, you shouldn’t take any more cross-country trips and you shouldn’t be traveling alone.

You should never show valuables and money openly, as theft and robberies have often occurred recently.

Economy

The main industries are mining, fishing and processing, agriculture and tourism.

In order to obtain foreign currency, mining is strongly promoted and the products obtained are almost entirely exported.

Mainly lead, diamonds, gold, copper, uranium and tin are mined.

Industries: mining, natural gas extraction, fishing, light industry

Natural resources: lead, diamonds, natural gas, fish, gold, copper, salt, uranium, hydropower, tin, zinc

Land use:

• Usable land: 1%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 46%
• Forests: 22%
• other: 31%

Plants

The best known is the baobab tree, Bordering countries there are specimens in Namibia, the age Bordering countries is estimated to be over 4,000 years.

Animals

Due to the frequent dry seasons, there are only very adapted animal species in Namibia. These include antelopes, buffalo, hippos, cheetahs, crocodiles and warthogs.

Small animals such as chameleons, snakes, scorpions and several species of spiders can be found in the desert plains.