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| Namibia |

Introduction | Namibia

Background: | South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990 following multi-party elections and the establishment of a constitution. President NUJOMA is currently serving his third term as president.

Geography | Namibia

Location: | Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: | 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 825,418 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries: | total: 3,936 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: | 1,572 km
Maritime claims: | contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: | desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: | mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources: | diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use: | arable land: 0.99% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.01% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues: | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | 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

People | Namibia

Population: | 1,927,447 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346) 15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486) (2003 est.)
Median age: | total: 18.3 years male: 17.9 years female: 18.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate: | 1.49% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: | 34.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: | 19.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 68.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 42.77 years male: 44.27 years female: 41.22 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 4.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 22.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 230,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 13,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups: | black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5% note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions: | Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Languages: | English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84% male: 84.4% female: 83.7% (2003 est.)

Government | Namibia

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type: | republic
Capital: | Windhoek
Administrative divisions: | 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence: | 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution: | ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Legal system: | based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%
Legislative branch: | bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004) note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other 1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders: | Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag description: | a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Economy | Namibia

Economy - overview: | The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $13.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 11% industry: 28% services: 61% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 8% (2001)
Labor force: | 725,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 35% (1998)
Budget: | revenues: $883 million expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: | meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | 26.95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: | 603.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: | 578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA (2001)
Oil - imports: | NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 31.15 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: | millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Exports: | $1.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: | diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners: | EU 79%, US 4% (2001)
Imports: | $1.38 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities: | foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners: | US 50%, EU 31% (2001)
Debt - external: | $517 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | ODA $160 million (2000 est.)
Currency: | Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code: | NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates: | Namibian dollars per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March

Communications | Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use: | 110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 82,000 (2000 est.)
Telephone system: | general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100 persons domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire; 100% digital international: fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios: | 232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: | 60,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .na
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)
Internet users: | 45,000 (2002)

Transportation | Namibia

Railways: | total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: | total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)
Waterways: | none
Ports and harbors: | Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine: | none (2002 est.)
Airports: | 135 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 114 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 19 (2002)

Military | Namibia

Military branches: | National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 459,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 274,015 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $73.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues | Namibia

Disputes - international: | commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge; Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003