Republic of Namibia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Unity, Liberty, Justice"
Anthem: Namibia, Land of the Brave
Capital (and largest city)		Windhoek 22°33′S, 17°15′E
Official languages		English1
Recognised regional languages		Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, German[1]
Demonym		Namibian
Government		Republic
-	President	Hifikepunye Pohamba
-	Prime minister	Nahas Angula
Independence		from South Africa
-	Date	March 21, 1990
Area
-	Total	825,418 km² (34th) 318,696 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	1,820,9162 (144th)
-	2002 census	1,820,916
-	Density	2. The flag of Namibia was adopted on March 21, 1990 upon independence from South Africa. The Coat of Arms of Namibia consists of a bend sinister shield with the flag of Namibia depicted on it A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's " Namibia Land of the Brave " is the National anthem of Namibia. Namibians are of diverse ethnic origins The principal groups are the Ovambo, Kavango, Herero / Himba, Damara, mixed race ( Coloured An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in Oshiwambo or Oshivambo is a cluster of several very closely related languages in Angola and northern Namibia, notably Kwanyama (or Oshikwanyama Ndonga The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Latest election List This page contains a list of presidents of Namibia. Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba (born August 18, 1935) is the second and current President of Namibia. This page contains a list of Prime Ministers of Namibia. Prime Ministers of Namibia since independence See also List of current government Nahas Gideon Angula (born August 22 1943) is the current Prime Minister of Namibia. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here Surface areas between 100000 km² and 1000000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 5/km² (225th) 6. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² 5/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$15. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 14 billion (123rd)
-	Per capita	$7,478 (77th)
Gini (2003)		70. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth 7 [1] (high) (1st)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. This is a list of countries or dependencies by Income inequality metrics, including Gini coefficients according to the United Nations (UN and the The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 650 (medium) (125th)
Currency		Namibian dollar (NAD)
Time zone		WAT (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	WAST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD		.na
Calling code		+264
1 German and Afrikaans were official languages until independence in 1990. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The dollar ( Currency code NAD) has been the Currency of Namibia since 1993 ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established West Africa Time, or WAT, is a time zone used in western and west-central Africa (though not in countries west of Benin, which instead use GMT Daylight saving time ( DST West Africa Time, or WAT, is a time zone used in western and west-central Africa (though not in countries west of Benin, which instead use GMT A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The majority of the population speaks Afrikaans as a second language, while Oshiwambo is the first language of approximately half the population. A second language (L2 is any Language learned after the first language or mother tongue (L1 Oshiwambo or Oshivambo is a cluster of several very closely related languages in Angola and northern Namibia, notably Kwanyama (or Oshikwanyama Ndonga A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth German is spoken by 32% of the European community whereas English is only spoken by 7%. [2] Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in southern Africa on the Atlantic coast. Southern Africa is the Southernmost Region of the African Continent, variably defined by Geography or Geopolitics. It shares borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the south. Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa It gained independence from South Africa in 1990 and its capital city is Windhoek (German: Windhuk). Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. 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. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Southern African Development Community ( SADC) is an Inter-governmental organization. The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other working languages is a Confederation consisting of 53  African It is named after the Namib Desert. The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

History

Main article: History of Namibia

The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, Namaqua, and since about the 14th century AD, by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages and it has really only existed as a modern state since South Africa relinquished control of the country in The Bushmen, San, Sho, Basarwa, ǃKung or Khwe are indigenous people of southern Africa that spans most areas of South Africa The Damara are a people who live in Namibia, a country in south-western Africa. Nama (in older sources also called Namaqua) are an African Ethnic group of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people The Bantu expansion was a millennia-long series of migrations of speakers of the original proto- Bantu language group The region was not extensively explored by Europeans until the 19th century, when the land came under German control as South West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika^[3]) — apart from Walvis Bay, which was under British control. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification German South West Africa ( German: Deutsch-Südwestafrika, DSWA) was a Colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915 when it was taken Walvis Bay ( Dutch / Afrikaans Walvisbaai, German The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located South Africa occupied the colony during World War I and administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory until after World War II, when it unilaterally annexed the territory, without international recognition. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa South-West Africa (Afrikaans Suidwes-Afrika; German Südwestafrika) was the name of what is today the Republic of Namibia. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920 A League of Nations mandate refers to a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

In 1966 ,the South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) military wing, People's Liberation Army of Namibia, a guerrilla group launched a war of independence, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration of Namibia, in accordance with a United Nations peace plan for the entire region. The South West Africa People's Organization ( SWAPO) is a Political party and former Liberation movement in Namibia. The People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO during the Namibian War of Independence Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc The Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the Nationalist South-West Africa People's The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Independence came in 1990, and Walvis Bay was ceded to Namibia in 1994 upon the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Walvis Bay ( Dutch / Afrikaans Walvisbaai, German

Regions and constituencies

Main articles: Regions of Namibia and Constituencies of Namibia

Namibia is divided into 13 regions and subdivided into 102 constituencies. Namibia is divided into 13 administrative Regions Regions map Population table Each of the 13 regions in Namibia are further subdivided into constituencies. The article is about the geographic sense of the term For other uses including Regions and Regional, see Region (disambiguation.

Geography

A detailed map of Namibia, based on radar images from The Map Library. Economy The region is a predominantly small stock farming area consisting mostly of animals such as sheep or goats Geography The Caprivi is a heavily Tropical area with high temperatures and much rainfall during the December-to-March Rainy season, making it the wettest region Politics In the 2004 election for the National Assembly of Namibia, voters in Kunene Region supported numerous parties Economy The Omaruru Karibib and Okombahe/Uis/Tsubeses areas are all situated in a semi-arid farming region and have a homogenous farming pattern which is mostly stock-raising Population The region is characterised by an extremely uneven population distribution The Map Library should not be confused with the Map Library of The British Museum.

Dune in Namibia.

Namib Desert. The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Petroglyphs near Twyfelfontein. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading Twyfelfontein is a site in the Kunene Region of Namibia containing 2000 figures of Rock carvings.

Fish River Canyon.

Quivertree forest.

Roter Kamm crater, in the Namib Desert (Landsat image)

Main articles: Geography of Namibia and Towns in Namibia

At 825. Roter Kamm is a Meteorite crater, located within the Namibian section of the Namib Desert. The Landsat program is the longest running enterprise for acquisition of imagery of Earth from space Location Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa This is a list of cities and towns in Namibia: Cities Windhoek - rail junction international airport Walvis Bay 418 km² (318. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 7 sq mi)^[4], Namibia is the world's thirty-fourth largest country (after Venezuela). The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the After Mongolia, Namibia is the least densely populated country in the world (2. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East 5 inhabitants per square kilometre (6. 5 /sq mi)).

The Namibian landscape consists generally of five geographical areas, each with characteristic abiotic conditions and vegetation with some variation within and overlap between them: the Central Plateau, the Namib Desert, the Escarpment, the Bushveld, and the Kalahari Desert. The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. In Geomorphology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves a sharp steep Elevation differential characterized The Bushveld is a tropical savanna Ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and part of the North West Province Although the climate is generally extremely dry, there are a few exceptions. The cold, north-flowing Benguela current accounts for some of the low precipitation. The frigid waters of the north-flowing Benguela current move from the western coast of South Africa, Namibia and Angola towards north and northwest

The Central Plateau runs from north to south, bordered by the Skeleton Coast to the north west, the Namib Desert and its coastal plains to the south west, the Orange River to the south, and the Kalahari Desert to the east. The Skeleton Coast ( German: Skelettküste is the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia and south of Angola from the The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The Orange River ( Afrikaans / Dutch: Oranjerivier) Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in The Central Plateau is home to the highest point in Namibia at Königstein elevation 2,606 meters (8,550 ft). The Brandberg ( Damara: Dâures Omukuruvaro is Namibia 's highest Mountain, and is located in Damaraland, in the northwestern Namib The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit ^[5] Within the wide, flat Central Plateau is the majority of Namibia’s population and economic activity. Windhoek, the nation’s capital, is located here, as well as most of the arable land. Although arable land accounts for only 1% of Namibia, nearly half of the population is employed in agriculture. ^[6]

The abiotic conditions here are similar to those found along the Escarpment, described below; however the topographic complexity is reduced. Summer temperatures in the area can reach 40°C during the summer, and in the winter, frosts are common.

The Namib Desert is a broad expanse of hyper-arid gravel plains and dunes that stretches along the entire coastline, which varies in width between 100 to many hundreds of kilometres. The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Areas within the Namib include the Skeleton Coast and the Kaokoveld in the north and the extensive Namib Sand Sea along the central coast. The Skeleton Coast ( German: Skelettküste is the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia and south of Angola from the The Kaokoveld Desert is a coastal desert of northern Namibia and southern Angola. ^[7] The sands that make up the sand sea are a consequence of erosional processes that take place within the Orange River valley and areas further to the south. The Orange River ( Afrikaans / Dutch: Oranjerivier) Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in As sand-laden waters drop their suspended loads into the Atlantic, onshore currents deposit them along the shore. The prevailing south west winds then pick up and redeposit the sand in the form of massive dunes in the widespread sand sea. In areas where the supply of sand is reduced because of the inability of the sand to cross riverbeds, the winds also scour the land to form large gravel plains. In many areas within the Namib Desert, there is little vegetation with the exception of lichens found in the gravel plains, and in dry river beds where plants can access subterranean water. The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Namibian Escarpment.

The Great Escarpment swiftly rises to over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft). In Geomorphology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves a sharp steep Elevation differential characterized Average temperatures and temperature ranges increase as you move further inland from the cold Atlantic waters, while the lingering coastal fogs slowly diminish. Although the area is rocky with poorly developed soils, it is nonetheless significantly more productive than the Namib Desert. The Namib Desert is a Desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. As summer winds are forced over the Escarpment, moisture is extracted as precipitation. In Geomorphology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves a sharp steep Elevation differential characterized ^[8] The water, along with rapidly changing topography, is responsible for the creation of microhabitats which offer a wide range of organisms, many of them endemic. Vegetation along the Escarpment varies in both form and density, with community structure ranging from dense woodlands to more shrubby areas with scattered trees. In Geomorphology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves a sharp steep Elevation differential characterized A number of Acacia species are found here, as well as grasses and other shrubby vegetation. Acacia is a Genus of Shrubs and Trees belonging to the Subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first

The Bushveld is found in north eastern Namibia along the Angolan border and in the Caprivi Strip which is the vestige of a narrow corridor demarcated for the German Empire to access the Zambezi River. The Bushveld is a tropical savanna Ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and part of the North West Province Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip (in German Caprivizipfel) or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is the fourth-longest River in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa The area receives a significantly greater amount of precipitation than the rest of the county, averaging around 400 millimetres per year. Temperatures are also cooler and more moderate, with approximate seasonal variations of between 10 °C (50 °F) and 30 °C (90 °F). The area is generally flat and the soils sandy, limiting their ability to retain water. ^[9] Located adjacent to the Bushveld in north-central Namibia is one of nature’s most spectacular features: the Etosha Pan. The Bushveld is a tropical savanna Ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and part of the North West Province thumb|300px|right|Blick on the Etoscha pan thumb|300px|right|Ausgetrockneter soil of the Etoscha pan ---> The Etosha pan For most of the year it is a dry, saline wasteland, but during the wet season, it forms a shallow lake covering more than 6000 square kilometres. The area is ecologically important and vital to the huge numbers of birds and animals from the surrounding savannah that gather in the region as summer drought forces them to the scattered waterholes that ring the pan. A savanna or savannah is a Tropical or Subtropical Grassland or Woodland Ecosystem.

The Kalahari Desert is perhaps Namibia’s best known geographical feature. Shared with South Africa and Botswana, it has a variety of localized environments ranging from hyper-arid sandy desert, to areas that seem to defy the common definition of desert. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. One of these areas, known as the Succulent Karoo, is home to over 5,000 species of plants, nearly half of them endemic; fully one third of the world’s succulents are found in the Karoo. The Succulent Karoo is a desert ecoregion of South Africa and Namibia.

Namibian sunset.

The reason behind this high productivity and endemism may be the relatively stable nature of precipitation^[10]The Karoo apparently does not experience drought on a regular basis, so even though the area is technically desert, regular winter rains provide enough moisture to support the region’s interesting plant community. Another feature of the Kalahari, indeed many parts of Namibia, are Inselbergs, isolated mountains that create microclimates and habitat for organisms not adapted to life in the surrounding desert matrix.

Besides the capital city Windhoek in the centre of the country, other important towns are the ports of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, as well as Oshakati and Grootfontein. Walvis Bay ( Dutch / Afrikaans Walvisbaai, German Swakopmund ( German for "Mouth of the Swakop " is a City on the Atlantic coast of northwestern Namibia, 280 km (175

Economy

Main article: Economy of Namibia

Namibia’s economy consists primarily of mining and manufacturing which represent 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) respectively^[11]. The economy of Namibia is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export Namibia has a 30-40% unemployment rate and recently passed a 2004 labour act to protect people from job discrimination stemming from pregnancy and HIV/AIDS status. Namibia’s economy is tied closely to South Africa’s due to their shared history. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa ^[12][13] The Central Plateau serves as a transportation corridor from the more densely populated north to South Africa, the source of four-fifths of Namibia’s imports. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa ^[6] Namibia is the fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth largest producer of uranium. Uranium (jʊˈreɪniəm is a silvery-gray Metallic Chemical element in the There has been significant investment in uranium mining and Namibia is set to become the largest exporter of uranium by 2015. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. In Mineralogy, diamond is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Tin is a Chemical element with the symbol Sn (stannum and Atomic number 50 Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen Tungsten (ˈtʌŋstən also known as wolfram (/ˈwʊlfrəm/ is a Chemical element that has the symbol W and Atomic number 74 About half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood, but Namibia must still import some of its food. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficient farming in which farmers grow only enough food to feed the family and to pay taxes or feudal dues Although per capita GDP is five times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorest countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in rural areas and exist on a subsistence way of life. Namibia has one of the highest rates of income inequality in the world, due in part to the fact that there is an urban economy and a more rural cash-less economy. This is a list of countries or dependencies by Income inequality metrics, including Gini coefficients according to the United Nations (UN and the The inequality figures thus take into account people who do not actually rely on the formal economy for their survival. Agreement has been reached on the privatisation of several more enterprises in coming years, with hopes that this will stimulate much needed foreign investment. Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business However, reinvestment of environmentally derived capital has hobbled Namibian per capita income. ^[14] One of the fastest growing areas of economic development in Namibia is the growth of wildlife conservancies. The Republic of Namibia is located in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic coast between Angola and South Africa. These conservancies are particularly important to the rural generally unemployed population.

Child labour occurs in Namibia, and key stakeholders including government ministries endorsed the Action Programme towards the Elimination of Child Labour in January 2008. Child labor is the employment of Children at regular and sustained labour ^[15]

For more information on this subject, see Child labour in Namibia

Tourism

Windhoek skyline. Namibia ratified both the ILO Minimum Age Convention (C138 and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (C182 in 2000

Main article: Tourism in Namibia

Namibia generally attracts eco-tourists with the majority visiting to experience the different climates and natural geographical landscapes such as the great eastern desert and plains. Tourism in Namibia is a major industry Annually nearly one million travelers visit Namibia, with roughly one in three coming from South Africa, then Germany Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of Tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals There are many lodges and reserves to accommodate eco-tourists.

The most visited regions include, although are not limited to, the Sossosvlei, Etosha Park and the coastal activity areas of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Namibia

The politics of Namibia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Namibia is elected to a five year term and is both the head of state and the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Politics of Namibia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President of Namibia is both A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Latest election List This page contains a list of presidents of Namibia. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the bicameral Parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Parliament of Namibia consists of two chambers The National Council ( Upper Chamber) The National Assembly The National Assembly of Namibia is the Lower chamber of the country's Bicameral Parliament. The National Council of Namibia is the Upper chamber of the country's Bicameral Parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State ^[12][13]

Communal Wildlife Conservancies

Main article: Communal Wildlife Conservancies in Namibia

Namibia is the only country in the world to specifically address conservation and protection of natural resources in its constitution. The Republic of Namibia is located in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic coast between Angola and South Africa. "Conservation Biology" redirects here For the Scientific journal, see Conservation Biology (journal. Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity ^[16] Article 95 states, “The State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting international policies aimed at the following: maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity of Namibia, and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future. Ecology (from Greek grc οἶκος oikos, "house(hold" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of ”^[16]

In 1993, the newly formed government of Namibia received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Living in a Finite Environment (LIFE) Project. The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the United States federal government organization responsible for most non- military ^[17] The Ministry of Environment and Tourism with the financial support from organizations such as USAID, Endangered Wildlife Trust, WWF, and Canadian Ambassador’s Fund, together form a Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) support structure. The Endangered Wildlife Trust is a South African Environmental organisation for the conservation of Threatened species and Ecosystems in southern The main goal of this project is promote sustainable natural resource management by giving local communities rights to wildlife management and tourism. ^[18] Namibia is home to the African bull snake

Sports

The most popular sport in Namibia is association football (soccer). Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Rugby union and cricket are also popular. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Namibia were participants in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in Rugby union 's professional era. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby union world cup and was won by England. The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international Rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby union competition They also played in the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The 2003 Cricket World Cup ( Official name: ICC Cricket World Cup 2003) was played in South Africa from February 9 to March 24.

Demographics

A group of Herero women, Windhoek, Namibia

A group of Himba women, near Opuwo, Namibia

A Himba teenager, north of Opuwo, Namibia

Main article: Demographics of Namibia

Among the sovereign countries with the lowest population density, Namibia lies in second place, after Mongolia. Namibians are of diverse ethnic origins The principal groups are the Ovambo, Kavango, Herero / Himba, Damara, mixed race ( Coloured List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East The majority of the Namibian population is Black African — mostly of the Ovambo ethnicity, which forms about half of the population — and concentrated in the north of the country. The term black people usually refers to a racial group of Humans with dark Skin color, but the term has also been used to categorise a number of diverse The Ovambo or Owambo culture consists of nine kindred tribes which inhabit Ovamboland in northern Namibia. There are also the Herero and Himba people who speak a similar language. The Herero are a people belonging to the Bantu group with about 240000 members alive today The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20000 to 50000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region (formerly Kaokoland) In addition to the Bantu majority, there are large groups of Khoisan (e. Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people Khoisan (increasingly commonly spelled Khoesan or Khoe-San) is the name for two major Ethnic groups of Southern Africa. g. Nama and Bushmen), who are descendants of the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. The Bushmen, San, Sho, Basarwa, ǃKung or Khwe are indigenous people of southern Africa that spans most areas of South Africa Khoisan differ significantly in appearance from both Bantu and White Africans. Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people Blacks of other Bantu descent are descendants of refugees from Angola. Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central There are also two smaller groups of people with mixed racial origins, called "Coloureds" and "Basters", who together make up 8% (with the Coloureds outnumbering the Basters two to one). In the South African Namibian Zambian Botswanan and Zimbabwean context the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense The Basters (also known as Baasters, Rehobothers or Rehoboth Basters) are the descendants of liaisons between the Cape Colony Dutch Whites of Portuguese, Dutch, German, British and French ancestry make up about 5% of the population (about 85,000) — which is the second largest proportion and number in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Most of Namibian whites and nearly all those of mixed race are Afrikaans speakers and share similar origins, culture, religion and genealogy as the white and coloured populations of neighbouring South Africa. Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in A smaller proportion of whites (around 13,000) trace their family origins directly back to German settlers and maintain German cultural and educational institutions. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Nearly all Portuguese are miners and settlers from their former colony of Angola. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central

Half of all Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language, whereas the most widely understood languages are Afrikaans and German. The Ovambo or Owambo culture consists of nine kindred tribes which inhabit Ovamboland in northern Namibia. Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Among the younger generation, the most widely understood language is English. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

Although its official language is English, Namibia is a multilingual country as it is illustrated on these examples in English, German, Afrikaans and Oshiwambo.

Both Afrikaans and English are used primarily as a second language reserved for public sphere communication, but small first language groups exist throughout the country. Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States While the official language is English, most of the white population speaks either Afrikaans or German, both official languages until 1990 when Namibia became independent. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Portuguese is spoken by blacks and whites from Angola. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal.

Christianity is the major religion, with the Lutheran Church being the largest then followed by the Roman Catholic. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The government of Namibia puts the number of people who practice Islam in Namibia at about 70,000 or about 3% of the population of Namibia. Islam is the third largest religion in Namibia after Christianity and indigenous beliefs ^[19][20] Most foreign nationals make up the largest group in Namibia's Muslim community. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion ^[20]

HIV / AIDS in Namibia

The AIDS epidemic is a very large problem in Namibia as the country's infection rate is one of the highest on the continent and it shares its eastern border with Botswana which has the second highest rate of over 24%. The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. In 2001, there were an estimated 210,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, and the estimated death toll in 2003 was 16,000. ^[21] In north and central Namibia, malaria is also a pressing problem. Malaria is a vector -borne Infectious disease caused by Protozoan Parasites It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions including The malaria problem seems to be compounded by the epidemic. Research has shown in Namibia, that the risk of contracting malaria is 14. 5% greater if a person is also infected with HIV. The risk of death from malaria is also raised by approximately 50% with a concurrent HIV infection. Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ^[22] Given infection rates this large as well as a looming malaria problem, it may be very difficult for the government to deal with both the medical and economic impacts of this epidemic.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Namibia

Namibia follows a largely independent foreign policy, with lingering affiliations with states that aided the independence struggle, including Libya and Cuba. Namibia follows a largely independent Foreign policy, with strong affiliations with states that aided the independence struggle including Libya and Cuba Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American Magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la

With a small army and a fragile economy, the Namibian Government's principal foreign policy concern is developing strengthened ties within the Southern African region. Southern Africa is the Southernmost Region of the African Continent, variably defined by Geography or Geopolitics. A dynamic member of the Southern African Development Community, Namibia is a vocal advocate for greater regional integration. The Southern African Development Community ( SADC) is an Inter-governmental organization.

Namibia became the 160th member of the United Nations on April 23, 1990. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) On its independence it became the fiftieth member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Reporters Without Borders' Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2007^[23] ranks Namibia as 25th out of 169 countries, as compared with 56th out of 166 in 2003, and 31st out of 139 in 2002.

International disputes

Namibia is involved in several minor international disputes, including:

• Small residual disputes with Botswana along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands and specifically Kasikili or Sedudu Island. The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip (in German Caprivizipfel) or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion Kasikili Island, or Sedudu Island, is an island in the Chobe River on the border between Namibia and Botswana, near the Botswanan town of
• A dormant dispute over where the boundaries of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge;
• Disputes over Angolan rebels and refugees residing in Namibia. The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race

Military

Main article: Military of Namibia

The constitution of Namibia defined the role of the military as "defending the territory and national interests. The Military of Namibia was created when South West Africa gained full independence from South Africa in 1989 " Namibia formed the National Defence Force (NDF), comprising former enemies in a 23-year bush war: the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF). The People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO during the Namibian War of Independence South-West Africa (Afrikaans Suidwes-Afrika; German Südwestafrika) was the name of what is today the Republic of Namibia. The South West African Territorial Force (SWATF was the forerunner of the Namibian Defence Force and was basically an extension or Auxiliary of the The British formulated the force integration plan and began training the NDF, which consists of five battalions and a small headquarters element. The United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG)'s Kenyan infantry battalion remained in Namibia for three months after independence to assist in training the NDF and stabilize the north. In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG was deployed in April 1989 in Namibia as a The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south According to the Namibian Defence Ministry, enlistments of both men and women will number no more than 7,500. Defence and security account for approximately 3. 7% of government spending.

See also

References

General references

External links

A Welwitschia mirabilis (female) in Namibia. Welwitschia is a monotypic Genus of Gymnosperm Plant, composed solely of the very distinct Welwitschia mirabilis.

Government

• Republic of Namibia - Namibian Governmental Portal
• orusovo.com Constitution of the Republic of Namibia

News

• The Namibian - (in English)
• The Shebeen - English

Social Research

• Debie LeBeau's development research on Namibia - (English)

History

• Dr Klaus Dierks' Database of Biographies of Notable Namibian Figures in History - (English)

Overviews

• UK Foreign Office's profile of Namibia
• United States State Department Background Note: Namibia
• CIA World Factbook - Namibia
• Towns and Cities in Namibia - English

Tourism

• Namibia Tourism Board (official English Website)
• Namibia Travel Companion
• Namibia Business Directory
• Namibia Destination Information
• Namibia Accommodation
• Namibia Activities