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Africa :: 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 became 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. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in November 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the November 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.

- ## 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: 824,292 sq km
  land: 823,290 sq km
  water: 1,002 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Area - comparative:
  slightly more than half the size of Alaska
  Land boundaries:
  total: 4,220 km
  border countries (4): Angola 1,427 km, Botswana 1,544 km, South Africa 1,005 km, Zambia 244 km
  Coastline:
  1,572 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 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, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
  note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 47.2%
  arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 46.2%
  forest: 8.8%
  other: 44% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  75.73 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  17.72 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.29 cu km/yr (25%/5%/70%)
  per capita: 146 cu m/yr (2002)
  Natural hazards:
  prolonged periods of drought
  Environment - current issues:
  limited natural freshwater resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 and Society :: NAMIBIA

- 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 include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
  Languages:
  Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%
  note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
  Population:
  2,212,307
  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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30.95% (male 345,767/female 339,026)
  15-24 years: 23.11% (male 258,586/female 252,773)
  25-54 years: 36.57% (male 422,026/female 386,948)
  55-64 years: 4.88% (male 48,406/female 59,545)
  65 years and over: 4.49% (male 42,635/female 56,595) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 67.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 61.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.9%
  potential support ratio: 17% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 23.1 years
  male: 23.1 years
  female: 23.1 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.59% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Birth rate:
  19.8 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Death rate:
  13.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 46.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 4.16% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  WINDHOEK (capital) 368,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 45.62 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 48.48 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 42.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 51.62 years
  male: 52.05 years
  female: 51.18 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Total fertility rate:
  2.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  55.1% (2006/07)
  Health expenditures:
  7.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Physicians density:
  0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.2% of population
  rural: 84.6% of population
  total: 91% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.8% of population
  rural: 15.4% of population
  total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 54.5% of population
  rural: 16.8% of population
  total: 34.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 45.5% of population
  rural: 83.2% of population
  total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  15.97% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  245,400 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  5,100 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne disease: malaria
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  16.8% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  13.2% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Education expenditures:
  8.5% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 81.9%
  male: 79.2%
  female: 84.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 11 years (2006)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 34.3%
  male: 29.4%
  female: 40.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19

- ## Government :: NAMIBIA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
  conventional short form: Namibia
  local long form: Republic of Namibia
  local short form: Namibia
  former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch Suedwest Afrika), South-West Africa
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Windhoek
  geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
  Administrative divisions:
  14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
  Independence:
  21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
  Constitution:
  drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990; amended 1998, 2010 (2010)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
  elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held on 28 November 2014)
  election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) and the National Council, which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (26 seats; members indirectly elected 2 each by the 13 regional councils to serve 5-year terms)
  elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 26-27 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)
  election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 80.0%, DTA 4.8%, RDP 3.5%, APP 2.3%, UDF 2.1%, NUDO 2.0%, CPN 1.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77, DTA 5, RDP 3, APP 2, UDF 2, NUDO 2, CPN 2, SWANU 1, UPM 1, RP 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
  judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65 but can be extended by the president until age 70
  subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]
  Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) [Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK]
  Congress of Democrats or CoD [Ben ULENGA]
  Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI]
  National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]
  Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]
  Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]
  South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]
  South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]
  United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus //GAROEB]
  United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS
  other: various labor unions
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA (since 3 September 2010)
  chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
  FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON (since 6 October 2014)
  embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
  mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
  telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500
  FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603
  Flag description:
  a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources
  National symbol(s):
  oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow
  National anthem:
  name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
  lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
  note: adopted 1991

- ## Economy :: NAMIBIA

- Economy - overview:
  The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 11.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is becoming increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. The mining and quarrying sectors employ less than 2% of the population. 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 one of the world's most unequal income distributions. A five-year, Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second Compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment complicates budget planning. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations, and drought. The rising cost of mining diamonds, increasingly from the sea, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities recognize these issues and have emphasized the need to increase higher value raw materials, manufacturing, and services, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $23.82 billion (2014 est.)
  $22.79 billion (2013 est.)
  $21.3 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 137
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $13.35 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.3% (2014 est.)
  5.1% (2013 est.)
  5.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $10,800 (2014 est.)
  $10,200 (2013 est.)
  $9,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Gross national saving:
  23.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  20.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  21% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 64.7%
  government consumption: 29%
  investment in fixed capital: 27.5%
  investment in inventories: -2%
  exports of goods and services: 43.5%
  imports of goods and services: -62.7%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6.2%
  industry: 30%
  services: 63.7% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
  Industries:
  meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
  Industrial production growth rate:
  5.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Labor force:
  991,000 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 16.3%
  industry: 22.4%
  services: 61.3%
  note: about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture (2008 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  28.1% (2014 est.)
  29.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Population below poverty line:
  28.7% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.4%
  highest 10%: 42% (2010)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  59.7 (2010)
  70.7 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Budget:
  revenues: $5.021 billion
  expenditures: $5.659 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  38.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Public debt:
  22.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  23.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.3% (2014 est.)
  5.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Central bank discount rate:
  6% (31 December 2014)
  5.5% (31 December 2013)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  9% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.29% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Stock of narrow money:
  $3.867 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Stock of broad money:
  $7.496 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.574 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $6.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.993 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $1.305 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $1.152 billion (31 December 2011)
  $1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Current account balance:
  -$883 million (2014 est.)
  -$782.5 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Exports:
  $4.963 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.62 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Exports - commodities:
  diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks
  Imports:
  $7.657 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.624 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $1.651 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.503 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Debt - external:
  $6.021 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.845 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
  9.6502 (2014 est.)
  8.2099 (2013 est.)
  8.2 (2012 est.)
  7.2597 (2011 est.)
  7.3212 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: NAMIBIA

- Electricity - production:
  1.331 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Electricity - consumption:
  4.238 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Electricity - exports:
  89 million kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Electricity - imports:
  2.907 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.087 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  31.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  68.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  26,810 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  20,810 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  3.716 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136

- ## Communications :: NAMIBIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 180,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 2.7 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections
  domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of more than 100 telephones per 100 persons
  international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2010)
  Broadcast media:
  1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (2007)
  Internet country code:
  .na
  Internet users:
  total: 325,400
  percent of population: 14.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140

- ## Transportation :: NAMIBIA

- Airports:
  112 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 19
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 93
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
  914 to 1,523 m: 52
  under 914 m:
  16 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,628 km
  narrow gauge: 2,628 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Roadways:
  total: 44,138 km
  paved: 6,387 km
  unpaved: 37,751 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Merchant marine:
  total: 1
  by type: cargo 1 (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay

- ## Military :: NAMIBIA

- Military branches:
  Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 568,231 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 351,431
  females age 16-49: 311,513 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 26,413
  female: 26,038 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  4.2% of GDP (2015)
  3.11% of GDP (2012)
  3.38% of GDP (2011)
  3.11% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 20

- ## Transnational Issues :: NAMIBIA

- Disputes - international:
  concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Namibia is predominantly a country of origin and destination for children and, to a lesser extent, women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; victims, lured by promises of legitimate jobs, are forced to work in hazardous condition in urban centers and on commercial farms; traffickers exploit Namibian children, as well as children from Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, for forced labor in agriculture, cattle herding, domestic service, fishing, and street vending; children are also forced into prostitution, often catering to tourists from southern Africa and Europe; San girls are particularly vulnerable
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Namibia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; draft anti-trafficking legislation awaits review by the attorney general and the Child Care and Protection Bill, which would criminalize child trafficking, is still pending parliamentary approval; the government developed a national protection referral network for crime victims in 2013, but it has not been fully operationalized; authorities did not make systematic efforts to identify trafficking victims or to screen vulnerable groups for potential victims (2014)

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