Namibia Celebrates Its Nineteenth Birthday

The 21st of March: 19 years ago today Sam Nujoma was sworn in as Namibia’s first president of the free state by UN Secretary-General Pérez de Cuellar. The new country was full of hope and the promise of reconciliation. It is now 2009 and Namibia is in its 19th year of freedom from colonisation. How has the country grown and changed since then?

Namibia over the last 19 years:

Population: Whilst Namibia is still one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world (second only to Mongolia) its population has seen a steady increase since 1990 and is predicted to grow at a much faster rate in the future as the country continues to develop. In 1991 the population was estimated to be 1.4 million and by 2011 it is predicted to be approximately 2.3 million, indicating a growth of almost 1 million people in twenty years.

Economy: Perhaps the most significant economic change is the transformation of the tourist industry. Within the last 19 years tourism has experienced a boom as more and more people become aware of what Namibia has to offer. Although tourism currently makes up a relatively small percentage of the countries economy it is likely to see a huge increase in the future as the countries infrastructure continues to improve and international travel becomes easier.

Mentality: The most obvious change in mentality that Namibians have made is the attitude towards race. The country is now almost two decades on from the end of apartheid and for much of the population life is drastically different. Black people have more opportunities, be it social or economic, than ever before and the income gap between black, white and coloured people has been significantly reduced. However, Namibia is still a very young country and it is likely to take more than 19 years for the oppression that apartheid brought to be forgotten and for all members of Namibia’s population to consider themselves equals.

Namibia is still a young country and for much of the population the countries independence is something that happened within their lifetime.