Why Namibia Is So Empty

Namibia is one of the least populated countries on Earth. It is larger than many European nations,

yet most of its land appears almost completely empty. But why do so few people live here?

The answer begins with geography. Nearly half of Namibia is covered by the Namib Desert,

one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world. Some areas have not seen rain for

hundreds of years. Without reliable water, permanent human settlement becomes

nearly impossible. To the east lies the Kalahari Desert, where dry land and poor soil make large-scale

farming extremely difficult. Only small communities can survive, relying on livestock

and limited crops. This harsh environment naturally limits population growth. Climate is another