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Namibia

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Namibia is a country located in Southern Africa.

Namibia (orthographic projection)
Namibia (orthographic projection)

It sits along the Atlantic Ocean to the west. To the north, it borders Angola and Zambia.

Location Namibia AU Africa
Location Namibia AU Africa

Botswana is the neighbor to the east. South Africa lies to the south. The name Namibia comes from the Namib desert. This is the oldest desert in the world.

Namib Desert Namibia(2)
Namib Desert Namibia(2)

This desert makes Namibia the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Many different groups of people have lived here for a long time. The San, Damara, and Nama people lived in these lands since prehistoric times. The San were hunter-gatherers who moved to find food. The Khoikhoi were pastoralists who looked after animals. Around the 14th century, Bantu peoples arrived during a large movement called the Bantu expansion. Later, the Owambo people formed kingdoms like Ondonga and Oukwanyama.

Himba Woman and Family
Himba Woman and Family

Today, about 3.1 million people live in the country.

History in Namibia has seen many changes in who was in charge. In 1884, the German Empire began ruling most of the land. They called it German South West Africa. Between 1904 and 1908, German troops fought a very violent campaign. This period was a genocide against the Herero and Nama people.

Herero ladies
Herero ladies

Many people died from fighting, disease, or in camps. After World War I, South African forces took control in 1915. The League of Nations then gave South Africa the job of managing the territory.

South Africa continued to rule for many years under a system called apartheid. This was a set of laws that kept people of different races apart.

SADF-Operations 4
SADF-Operations 4

Many people fought for their right to rule themselves. A group called SWAPO became the main voice for the Namibian people. After the South African Border War, Namibia finally gained independence in March 1990.

Foreign Observer identification badge in the 1989 Namibian election
Foreign Observer identification badge in the 1989 Namibian election

It took until 1994 for all parts of the land to be under Namibian control.

Today, Namibia is a parliamentary democracy.

Downtown Windhoek, Independence Avenue
Downtown Windhoek, Independence Avenue

The country uses its natural resources to help its economy grow. People mine for diamonds, uranium, gold, and silver.

Equus burchelli 4
Equus burchelli 4

Tourism is also a very important job for many people. Even though the economy grows, some people still face hard times with poverty. There is also a big difference between the wealth of different people. Namibia is a member of many groups, like the United Nations and the African Union.

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🖼️ Images & Media (26)
Namibia, Land of the Brave.ogg
File:Namibia (orthographic projection).svg
Namibia (orthographic projection).svg
File:Location Namibia AU Africa.svg
Location Namibia AU Africa.svg
File:Foreign Observer identification badge in the 1989 Namibian election.jpg
Foreign Observer identification badge in...
File:SADF-Operations 4.jpg
SADF-Operations 4.jpg
File:Namib Desert Namibia(2).jpg
Namib Desert Namibia(2).jpg
File:SAC Namibia-cactus.jpg
SAC Namibia-cactus.jpg
File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_NAM_present.svg
Koppen-Geiger_Map_NAM_present.svg
File:Namibia-1113.jpg
Namibia-1113.jpg
File:SAC Namibia-bushveld.jpg
SAC Namibia-bushveld.jpg
File:Tintenpalast-Windhoek.jpg
Tintenpalast-Windhoek.jpg
File:Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi (2019-10-24).jpg
Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi (2019-10-24).jpg

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