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Namibia

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Summary

Although Namibia has one of Africa’s highest GDPs per capita, it also has one of the greatest wealth inequalities. The poverty rate is 27%, and citizens in poverty are more likely to suffer from disease and malnutrition.1 Namibia also has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world, with 14% of the adult population suffering from the disease. It is the leading cause of death, especially among young mothers and infants.2 The government experiences moderate levels of corruption and has failed to create adequate legislation to prevent gender-based violence and discrimination.3 1 https://borgenproject.org/inequality-and-poverty-in-namibia/ 2 https://www.intrahealth.org/sites/ihweb/files/attachment-files/countrybriefnamibia.pdf 3 https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2016/Namibia

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Namibia Demographics

Demographics

Nationality
Namibian
Population
2,182,852 (July 2013 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Languages
Religions

Causes in Namibia

Learn more about specific causes in Namibia that you can get involved in.

Environment
Family
Human Rights
Education
Poverty
Religion
Clean Water
Economy
Government
Health
Children
Animals

Environment

Climate change in Namibia is increasing the severity of the seasonal droughts and causing food insecurity.1 The government is working with the European Union to obtain grants that would aid in the implementation of green technologies and the enhancement of the regulatory framework.2 Namibia was the first country in Africa to write environmental conservation measures into its constitution. These measures empower local communities to manage their natural resources and protect wildlife. Conservation measures have helped increase agricultural productivity and ecotourism.3

Family

Namibia’s high levels of gender-based and domestic violence have sparked the government’s efforts to strengthen the legislation and reform the treatment and social welfare services that survivors of domestic violence receive. Approximately one-third of all Namibian women will experience domestic violence in their life, as 9 out of 10 victims of domestic violence are women. Furthermore, 33% of all women who reported being sexually active before age 15 reported that their first sexual experience was rape.1

Human Rights

Namibia experiences moderate levels of corruption in its government, including bribery and an inefficient judicial system. There are often extraordinarily lengthy pretrial detentions, and there have been reports of torture used to elicit confessions. There have also been reports of discrimination against women, children, and other minorities. Furthermore, Namibian prisons are overcrowded and juveniles are held with adults. Unsanitary conditions lead to the transmission of diseases.1 Gender-based violence is a significant concern for women and girls. Rape is common and rarely punished by law. A higher number of women than men are affected by HIV/AIDS, and the government has failed to outlaw the practice of sterilization on infected women.2 Approximately one-third of all Namibian women will experience domestic violence in their life, and 9 out Read More of 10 victims of domestic violence are women. Furthermore, 33% of all women who reported being sexually active before age 15 reported that their first sexual experience was rape.3 Show Less

Education

Namibia inherited a very inefficient and unequal education system from the colonial regime that dominated the country until the 1990s.1 After the dissolution of the colonial rule, the government made some institutional reforms to improve the system and make it more comprehensive. The Ministry of Education has begun to test the quality of the schools within the country to ensure that all are up to the regional, continental, and international standards.2 Namibia’s literacy rate is at 82%3 and the primary school enrollment rate is at 100%.4

Poverty

Despite being classified as a middle-income country, Namibia suffers from pervasive poverty and income inequality. The majority of the country’s income comes from the mining industry, so many citizens employed in agriculture and services do not benefit from the country’s wealth. The unemployment rate is 29% and the poverty rate is 27%.1

Religion

Approximately 80-90% of the Namibian population identifies as Christian, and 50% of the Christian population adheres to the Lutheran denomination. The other 10-20% of the population follow indigenous religions.1 Namibia’s constitution protects religious freedom, which is generally well respected by both the government and society. Religious conflict and discrimination are rare.2

Clean Water

Water insecurity due to frequent droughts is the largest hindrance to the realization of potable water access for all citizens.. Additionally, since Namibia is highly dependent on agriculture, the government has been working to drill wells to supply water for livestock, as well as distributing water purification tablets for rural villages.1 Currently, 91% of the population has access to improved drinking water source, but only 34% of the population has access to improved sanitation.2

Economy

Namibia’s economy is dependent on extracting and processing minerals for eventual export. The mining industry has accounted for 11% of the total GDP and is responsible for the majority of Namibia’s foreign investment and exchanges. The country is also the fourth largest producer of uranium in the world and a leading producer of zinc.1 Although Namibia has a high per capita GDP, the country has some of the highest levels of income inequality in the world.2 Despite a weak judicial system and low economic freedom, the economy has grown an average of 5% each year over the past five years.3 Additionally, the unemployment rate in Namibia is currently at 28%, and 29% of the population lives below the poverty line.1

Government

Namibia gained its independence from German South Africa in 1990. Namibia’s republic style government has a president who is elected by a popular vote and a bicameral legislature.1 There is significant legislation in place to prevent corruption, but it is not often enforced. Government corruption is manifested through bribery, and government positions are often given as favors for political services.2

Health

Since the country’s independence in the 1990s, the government has made many reforms and improvements upon its education system.1 However, disease and malnutrition still remain significant concerns. Namibia has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS, with 14% of the adult population affected. The disease causes 59% of maternal deaths and 14% of infant deaths each year.2 HIV also contributes to infant malnutrition since affected mothers cannot breastfeed. 1 in 4 children under the age of five experience some degree of malnutrition.3

Children

Currently, around one-third of all Namibian children are living in some form of poverty. 1 Child labor is a pervasive issue, as many families continue to depend on supplemental income that a child laborer helps provide. The government has outlawed child labor and prostitution, but there are still gaps in the law that prevent enforcement.2 Malnutrition is also a significant concern, and one in four children under the age of 5 in Namibia suffers from stunted growth.3

Animals

Namibia has a rich, diverse animal population due to government conservation measures. Native wildlife such as cheetahs, lions, rhinos, and elephants thrive in the dry climate. In the northern, arid region “desert-adapted” elephants can survive for days just on the moisture from the vegetation they eat. The coastal waters are home to a wide variety of marine life, including whales.1
Namibia

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