Namibia is an independent state in Southern Africa, and a member of the United Nations. In formal use it is Republic of Namibia. Windhoek is the capital.
By land area it covers 825,615 km², which ranks it 36th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Pakistan and just ahead of Mozambique. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is almost exactly the same size as Mozambique.
Around 3.0 million people live there, placing it 138th of 250 by population — between Armenia above it and Lithuania below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 2nd of 5 in size and 2nd in population.
Location, borders and position
Its reference point sits at 22.0° south and 17.0° east, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 2,449 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
It is one of the countries that the Tropic of Capricorn crosses. Countries on the same parallel, far away in longitude, include Paraguay, New Caledonia and Réunion.
4 countries share a land border with it: Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia. The largest of them by area is Angola, while the most populous is South Africa. Together those neighbours hold about 125.7 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population, density and language
Density comes out at around 3.7 people per square kilometre, which makes it very thinly populated. The median across all 250 entries here is about 90 per square kilometre.
It recognises 9 languages: Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi and Ndonga are listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes them effectively unique to Namibia. Afrikaans, the first listed, is shared with 1 other entry worldwide.
Someone from Namibia is a Namibian.
Inside Africa it places 41st of 59 by population, and it accounts for 4.1% of everyone living in Southern Africa.
Currency and codes
More than one currency circulates: Namibian dollar (NAD) and South African rand (ZAR). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to Namibia.
Websites there use the .na domain. To phone it from abroad you dial +264. Standard country codes: na and NAM.
Windhoek is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Namibia is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Namibia shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Namibia
- Ranked by land area, Namibia is 36th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- Its full official name is Republic of Namibia.
- Population density works out at roughly 3.7 people per square kilometre.
- Websites based there use the .na domain.
- Afrikaans is official here and in 1 other entry worldwide.
- Within Southern Africa it is the 2nd largest of 5.
- It is 138th of 250 by population, with about 3.0 million residents.
- People from Namibia are known as Namibians.
Namibia — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Namibia?
- The capital of Namibia is Windhoek.
- Which countries border Namibia?
- Namibia borders 4 countries: Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia. Angola is the largest of them by area.
- Is Namibia a country?
- Yes. Namibia is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What currency does Namibia use?
- Namibia uses the Namibian dollar, written $ (currency code NAD). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- How big is Namibia?
- Namibia covers 825,615 km², ranking 36th of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Mozambique.
- What is the population of Namibia?
- Namibia has a population of about 3.0 million, which makes it the 138th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Armenia sits just above it and Lithuania just below.
- What language is spoken in Namibia?
- Namibia lists 9 official languages: Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi and Ndonga do not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- Where is Namibia located?
- Namibia is in Southern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 22.0° south and 17.0° east, roughly 2,449 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
