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Namibia

Country in Southern Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Namibia (/nəˈmɪbiə/ (Loudspeaker.svglisten), /næˈ-/),[15][16] officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. Although it does not border Zimbabwe, less than 200 metres (660 feet) of the Botswanan right bank of the Zambezi River separates the two countries. Namibia gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990, following the Namibian War of Independence. Its capital and largest city is Windhoek. 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.

22°S 17°E
Quick facts: Republic of Namibia Name in national language...
Republic of Namibia
Name in national languages
Motto: "Unity, Liberty, Justice"
Anthem: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
Namibia_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg
Location_Namibia_AU_Africa.svg
Capital
and largest city
Windhoek
22°34′S 17°5′E
Official languagesEnglish
Recognised national languages
Recognised regional languages
Ethnic groups
(2014)
Religion
(2013)[9]
Demonym(s)Namibian
GovernmentUnitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic[10]
 President
Hage Geingob
Nangolo Mbumba
Saara Kuugongelwa
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Peter Shivute
LegislatureParliament
National Council
National Assembly
Independence from South Africa
9 February 1990
 Independence
21 March 1990
Area
 Total
825,615 km2 (318,772 sq mi) (34th)
 Water (%)
negligible
Population
 2020 estimate
2,550,226 (140th)
 2011 census
2,113,077[11]
 Density
3.2/km2 (8.3/sq mi) (235th)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
 Total
Increase $30.2 billion[12] (146th)
 Per capita
Increase $11,439[12] (116th)
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
 Total
Increase $13.4 billion[12] (146th)
 Per capita
Increase $5,100[12] (110th)
Gini (2015)59.1[13]
high
HDI (2021)Decrease 0.615[14]
medium · 139th
CurrencyNamibian dollar
(NAD)
South African rand (ZAR)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAST)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
Driving sideleft
Calling code+264
ISO 3166 codeNA
Internet TLD.na
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The driest country in sub-Saharan Africa,[17] Namibia has been inhabited since pre-historic times by the San, Damara and Nama people. Around the 14th century, immigrating Bantu peoples arrived as part of the Bantu expansion. Since then, the Bantu groups, the largest being the Ovambo, have dominated the population of the country; since the late 19th century, they have constituted a majority. Today Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world.

It has a population of 2.55 million people and is a stable multi-party parliamentary democracy. Agriculture, tourism and the mining industry – including mining for gem diamonds, uranium, gold, silver and base metals – form the basis of its economy, while the manufacturing sector is comparatively small.

In 1884, the German Empire established rule over most of the territory, forming a colony known as German South West Africa. Between 1904 and 1908, it perpetrated a genocide against the Herero and Nama people. German rule ended in 1915 with a defeat by South African forces. In 1920, after the end of World War I, the League of Nations mandated administration of the colony to South Africa. As mandatory power, South Africa imposed its laws, including racial classifications and rules. From 1948, with the National Party elected to power, this included South Africa applying apartheid to what was then known as South West Africa. In the later 20th century, uprisings and demands for political representation by native African political activists seeking independence resulted in the UN assuming direct responsibility over the territory in 1966, but the country of South Africa maintained de facto rule. In 1973, the UN recognised the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) as the official representative of the Namibian people. Following continued guerrilla warfare, Namibia obtained independence in 1990. However, Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands remained under South African control until 1994.