The 2001 Census lists just over 1.8 million Namibians. Coupled with an area of 824,292
square kilometres the country is one of the most sparsely populated on earth. Namibia is also
defined by arid conditions. Parts of Southern Namibia and its coastal desert receive little or
no rain in all but exceptional years. As one moves North and North-east rainfall improves
from 300 – 500 mm per year on the central plateau, to over 500 mm per year along the
Northern border with Angola, and closer to 700 mm per year in the Caprivi Strip. Within the
country there are no rivers in continual flood, only the Orange, Kunene, Okavango and
Zambezi Rivers, all of which form borders, flow year round. Namibia is the most arid country
in Sub-Saharan Africa.