Namibia is a big country in the southern part of Africa, 3.4 times bigger than the UK and yet a population of only 2.53 million (2021) compared to the UK’s figure of 67.3 million. Interesting fact : only Mongolia has a sparser population than Namibia. Namibia boasts 3 people to every square kilometre where the Uk is 277 people per sq km. Low population is accounted for by the realities of a limited water supply in the country.

The capital Windhoek has a population of only 477,000 people. This is the winter population of the Bodrum Peninsula but without any of the garbage!

Life expectancy is 62 ( 2020 figure) compared to 81 in the UK. The World Bank estimates 19% live below the poverty line despite substantial economic growth since independence from South Africa in 1990. I read that the current Government with its 2nd term President, Hage Geingob (great name for a politician), aim to integrate more of their population in to the modern economy away from subsistence farming as a way to lift everyone out of poverty.

Agriculture, Mining, Tourism and Fishing are the main economic drivers. 52% of their exports are in minerals, of which 70% is diamonds. One to watch for the future ; Namibia is the 5th largest producer of Uranium.

Namibia has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa with 91.5% of the population able to read. Education standards are elevating with only the last 2 years of secondary education optional, to be paid for and only available in the bigger towns.

English is the official language. 6% of the population is white. 2% of the population are of German descent.

65% are Protestants, 23% Roman Catholics 10.5% non Christian ( African traditional faiths, Sunni Islam, Buddhists) and 1.5% no affiliation.

Namibia have played rugby since 1990 but was beaten 92 to 0 by France in this year’s World Cup competition. I suspect I wasn’t the only person cheering for Namibia to win!

So these are the details I plagiarised from the Internet about Namibia. In one month’s time I will revisit this post with observations about the spirit of the nation.