WWelcome to Namibia
.................................................................................................... 1.0 OVERVIEW OF NAMIBIA Situated along the southwestern coast of the African continent, Namibia is truly a land of remarkable contrasts. With a land surface of 824 269km², it is nearly four times the size of Great Britain and slightly more than half the size of Alaska. Despite its size, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa, with an estimated population of about 2.2 million people. The north-central part of the country is the most densely populated area with an average population density of 26 people per square kilometer, more than ten times the national average. The small population is largely due to the fact that Namibia is the most arid country south of the Sahara. Average annual rainfall varies from a meager 10mm along the coast to 700mm in the northeast. About 55% of the country is classified as either arid or extremely arid. The national average rainfall is 270mm a year. Except for the far south which is a winter-rainfall area, more than 70% of the country’s rainfall is recorded between December and March. Namibia is a country of clear blue skies and pleasant climate. The summer months are hot and temperatures of 35°C, or higher, are common in the south and in the north of the country. Winter days are pleasant, but minimum temperatures can drop to below freezing in mid-winter. Fog is a common occurrence along the coast, but usually lifts around mid-morning and settles in again in the afternoons. 4
B2GOLD | NAMIBIA