Border history · 1886–2023

Namibia borders over time

CShapes records 5 changes to the borders of Namibia between 1886 and 2023. It has been independent since March 21, 1990. Its territory covers 824,758 km², more than the 699,703 km² it covered in 1886. The largest single change came on December 30, 1886, when it gained about 125,055 km².

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Border changes
5
Area today
824,758 km²
Largest change
+125,055 km² (1886)
Status
Independent since 1990
March 21, 1990 – presentChoose a period to see its borders. The dashed line is the period before.

Timeline of Namibia's borders

Each period is one border version in CShapes, with its area and the change from the period before.

  1. January 1, 1886 – December 29, 1886

    699,703 km²First recorded versionRuled by GermanyWorld map in 1886

  2. December 30, 1886 – August 15, 1915

    824,758 km²+125,055 km²Ruled by GermanyWorld map in 1887

  3. August 16, 1915 – December 16, 1920

    824,758 km²±0 km²Ruled by South AfricaWorld map in 1916

  4. December 17, 1920 – October 26, 1966

    824,758 km²±0 km²Ruled by South AfricaWorld map in 1921

  5. October 27, 1966 – March 20, 1990

    824,758 km²±0 km²Ruled by South AfricaWorld map in 1967

  6. March 21, 1990 – present

    824,758 km²±0 km²IndependentWorld map in 1990

What changed

Independence, transfers between rulers, and border changes recorded for this country.

  1. Namibia gains about 125,055 km² of territory.
  2. Namibia passes from Germany to South Africa.
  3. Namibia becomes independent from South Africa.