Area comparison map:

almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 4,220 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (4): Angola 1427 km, Botswana 1544 km, South Africa 1005 km, Zambia 244 km

Coastline:
1,572 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]

Climate:
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain:
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,141 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m

Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish, note, suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Land use:
agricultural land: 47.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 46.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 8.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 44% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
80 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola

Natural hazards:
prolonged periods of drought

Environment - current issues:
depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip; Namib-Naukluft National Park (49,768 sq km), is the largest game park in Africa and one of the largest in the world