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Namibia

Africa

Photos of Namibia

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The Namib Desert, for which Namibia is named, is a cool coastal desert running 1,900 km (1,200 mi) along Africa’s Atlantic coast, through Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. The name “Namib” is derived from the Nama language and means “an area where there is nothing.” Considered the oldest desert in the world, the Namib is home to important tungsten, salt, and diamond mines. The 49,768 sq km (19,215 mi) Namib-Naukluft National Park, which is also located in the Namib, is the largest game park in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Namibia was the first country to incorporate environmental protection into its constitution, with some 14% of its land protected, including most of its share of the Namib Desert.
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Introduction

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Definitions and Notes
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Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 35

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 182

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 54

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 47

Death rate

comparison ranking: 117

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 87

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 44

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 55

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 51

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 103

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 7

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 124

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 72

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 146

Labor force

comparison ranking: 144

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 199

Public debt

comparison ranking: 201

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 33

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 157

Exports

comparison ranking: 138

Imports

comparison ranking: 130

Energy

Communications

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 26

Railways

comparison ranking: total 62

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 85

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 152

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 40

Transnational Issues

Contents