Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region.
- Capital
- Windhoek
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 2,852,777
- Area
- 824,292 sq km
- Location
- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
- Climate
- desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
- Natural resources
- diamonds; copper; uranium; gold; silver; lead…
- Languages
- Oshiwambo languages 49.7%; Nama/Damara 11%; Kavango languages 10.4%; Afrikaans 9.4%…
- Religions
- Christian 97.5%; other 0.6% (includes Muslim; Baha'i; Jewish…
- Independence
- 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
- Administrative divisions
- 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Os…
- Currency
- Namibian dollars (NAD)
- Export partners
- South Africa 27%; China 12%; Botswana 8%; Belgium 7%…
- Import partners
- South Africa 36%; China 9%; India 7%; UAE 4%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain