Understanding Namibia: A Demographic Overview
Discover the Land, People, and Essentials of Namibia's Diversity
General
Surface Area: 825,000 km2
Capital: Windhoek
Independence: 21 March 1990
Political System: Democracy
Leading Party: SWAPO
President: Nangolo Mbumba
Freedom of Religion: 90% Christian
Population
Population Amount: 2,2 million people of which 15% (240,000 people) live in the capital of Windhoek.
Population Density: 2,2 people/km2
Languages: English is the official language of Namibia. Afrikaans and German are also widely spoken. In total, 16 languages and dialects are spoken by 13 ethnic cultures.
Climate
Namibia is one of the driest countries south of the Sahara. 70% of the country’s rainfall occurs between December and March.
Summer temperatures reach above 35°C in the summer months (October – April).
During winter (May – September) days are warm but nights are very cold, often below 0°C.
The country is wedged between the Namib Desert in the West and the Kalahari Desert in the East.
Money
Currency: The Namibian Dollar (N$) is fixed to the value of the South African Rand (ZAR/R) which can also be used as legal tender.
All major credit cards are accepted.
Banking Hours:
Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 15:30
Saturdays: 08:30 – 11:00
VAT Refunds: for purchases exceeding N$ 250, foreign tourists can obtain a VAT refund (15%) at their port of exit, provided that all cash slips have been kept.
Tourism Levy: All accommodation establishments are obliged by law to charge a tourism levy of either 1% (all-inclusive rate) or 2% (Bed or B&B rate).
Telephone & Communication
Namibia has direct dialling facilities to 221 countries. Mobile communication is well supported by various service providers with international roaming agreements in place with over 100 countries.
Dailing Codes
Calls from outside Namibia Country Code: ++264 plus Area code (without the “0”) plus telephone number (usually 6 digits) Example: ++264 61 123456
Calls from inside Namibia Area Code (eg 061 or 067 or 064 etc) plus telephone number( eg 061 123456)
Transport
Only about 12% of all roads are tarred; within the country gravel roads are predominant.
Harbours: Luderitz and Walvis Bay Main
Airports:
-Hosea Kutako International Airport (40 km outside Windhoek)
-Eros Airport (within Windhoek) – mainly domestic charters.
-Ondangwa Airport – mainly domestic charters and regional flights.
Otherwise, many airstrips (approx. 45) are available throughout Namibia. Extensive network of regional and international flights to Windhoek; domestic charters to all destinations.
Public transport:
–Very limited Bus service: Whk – Cape Town – Johannesburg – Vic FalIs – Swakopmund.
-Travel by train: operates between Karasburg in the south, Windhoek in the central, Swakopmund in the West, Gobabis in the East and Ondangwa in the North.
Flora & Fauna
Namibia boasts 120 different species of trees, 200 endemic plant species and more than 100 lichen species. The Welwitschia Mirabilis is Namibia’s living fossil plant.
On the Fauna front Namibia offers the big 5: Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino, plus Cheetah and Giraffe and about 20 antelope species and hundreds of mammal and reptile species, not to forget over 670 bird species.
Nature reserves cover 15% of the entire surface area. Perennial rivers run only in the south (Orange River) and the north (Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi and the Kwando/Lynianti/ Chobe) whereas ephemeral rivers run only during the rainy season (Le. December to March), amongst those are the Fish River, the Kuiseb, the Ugab and the Swakop Rivers.
