Country Guide • Namibia

Flag of Namibia

Namibia is in South West Africa. It is bound by Angola to the north, Zambia to the north east, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Official NameRepublic of Namibia
Area823,146km² (317,818mile²)
Population1,927,000
ContinentAfrica
Population per mile²6
Capital CityWindhoek
ReligionsMostly Christians of the Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican and Dutch Reformed Churches which combined account for 90% of the population. The remainder follow local native tribal beliefs
LanguageEnglish is the official language plus Afrikaans, German and several indigenous languages
GovernmentRepublic
CurrencyNamibian Dollar
GDP$12.6 billion
GDP per Head$6,900
Natural ResourcesCopper, diamonds, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower and fish
Land UseArable Land 1%
AgricultureMillet, sorghum, peanuts, livestock and fish
IndustryFishing, Food Processing, Mining, Ore Smelting, Stock Refining, Textiles
TourismNamibia has at least 300 days of sunshine a day. It is blessed with many natural resources which is helping the country build a solid infrastructure. It is a beautiful country with the Etosha National Park and Game Reserve which is one of the finest in Africa. There are deserts, seascapes, bushwalking and Namibia’s flat terrain and vast open spaces provide good opportunities for hiking and cycling
Natural HazardsProlonged periods of drought
Health RisksBilharzia (in the east), malaria (in the north-east)
ClimateNamibia has a temperate and subtropical climate characterised by hot and dry conditions with little rainfall along the coast. Average annual rainfall in Windhoek is 14 inches and average temperature ranges are from 6 to 20°C in July to 17 to 29°C in January
TimeGMT/UTC+2 hours
National DaysMarch 21 Independence Day, May 1 Workers’ Day, May 4 Cassinga Day, May 25 Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation), May 29 Ascension, August 26 Heroes’ Day, December 10 International Human Rights Day
VisasBritish citizens as with most other foreign nationals can enter Namibia for a holiday or private visit of up to 90 days without a Visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry to Namibia
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

Information Only

The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.