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 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 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: 35
  Area - comparative:
  slightly more than half the size of Alaska
  Land boundaries:
  total: 4,220 km
  border countries (4): Angola 1427 km, Botswana 1544 km, South Africa 1005 km, Zambia 244 km
  Coastline:
  1,572 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  Climate:
  desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
  Terrain:
  mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 1,141 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
  2573 highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg
  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% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 46.2% (2011 est.)
  forest: 8.8% (2011 est.)
  other: 44% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  80 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola
  Natural hazards:
  prolonged periods of drought
  Environment - current issues:
  depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching
  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
- Population:
  2,533,224 (July 2018 est.)

  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

  country comparison to the world: 142
  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 indigenous ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

  Languages:
  Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages .7%, other 1% (2016 est.)

  note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages

  Religions:
  Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
  Demographic profile:

  Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.

  The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.

  Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.

  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36.54% (male 467,392 /female 458,190)
  15-24 years: 20.34% (male 257,190 /female 257,984)
  25-54 years: 34.74% (male 421,849 /female 458,118)
  55-64 years: 4.46% (male 50,459 /female 62,478)
  65 years and over: 3.93% (male 42,381 /female 57,183) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Africa :: Namibia Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Namibia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 68.1 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 62.2 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 17.1 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 21.4 years
  male: 20.7 years
  female: 22.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Population growth rate:
  1.91% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Birth rate:
  26.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Death rate:
  7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Population distribution:
  population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 50% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  404,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  21.5 years (2013 est.)

  note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

  Maternal mortality rate:
  265 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 33.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 36 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 31.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 64.4 years (2018 est.)
  male: 62.7 years (2018 est.)
  female: 66.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Total fertility rate:
  3.21 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  56.1% (2013)
  Health expenditures:
  8.9% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  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 (2015 est.)
  rural: 16.8% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 34.4% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 45.5% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 83.2% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  12.1% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  200,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  2,700 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high (2016)
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
  vectorborne diseases: malaria (2016)
  water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  17.2% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  13.2% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Education expenditures:
  8.3% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 81.9% (2015 est.)
  male: 79.2% (2015 est.)
  female: 84.5% (2015 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 44.9% (2016 est.)
  male: 37.7% (2016 est.)
  female: 52.5% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
- 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
  etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name "namib" means "vast place" in the Nama/Damara language
  Government type:
  presidential 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:
  history: drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990 (2017)
  amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent by the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed; amended 1998, 2010, 2014 (2017)
  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
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: 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 terms can be extended by the president until age 70
  subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); 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 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)
  election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round; 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:
  National Council (42 seats); members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly
  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)
  elections:
  National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 27 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020)
  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 40, NUDO 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
  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]
  Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI]
  National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Asser MBAI]
  Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Jeremiah NAMBINGA]
  Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]
  South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]
  South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB]
  United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB]
  United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
  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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Helena Elizabeth GRAY (since 26 March 2018)
  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 Lisa A. JOHNSON (since 21 November 2017)
  embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
  mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
  telephone: [264] (061) 295-8500
  FAX: [264] (061) 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 golden-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 golden-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:

  Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% 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 increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, especially from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.

  Namibia is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought.

  Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years, food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment. GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2018.

  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 and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $26.6 billion (2017 est.)
  $26.81 billion (2016 est.)
  $26.62 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 139
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $13.24 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -0.8% (2017 est.)
  0.7% (2016 est.)
  6.1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $11,200 (2017 est.)
  $11,500 (2016 est.)
  $11,700 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 135
  Gross national saving:
  16.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
  9.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
  19.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 36.7% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -47.5% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6.7% (2016 est.)
  industry: 26.3% (2016 est.)
  services: 67% (2017 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:
  -0.4% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Labor force:
  956,800 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 31%
  industry: 14%
  services: 54% (2013 est.)

  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

  Unemployment rate:
  34% (2016 est.)
  28.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Population below poverty line:
  28.7% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 42% (2010)
  highest 10%: 42% (2010)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  59.7 (2010)
  70.7 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Budget:
  revenues: 4.268 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 5 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  32.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Public debt:
  41.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
  39.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.1% (2017 est.)
  6.7% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Central bank discount rate:
  7% (12 April 2017)
  6.5% (31 December 2015)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  10.04% (31 December 2017 est.)
  9.84% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Stock of narrow money:
  $3.425 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $2.911 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Stock of broad money:
  $3.425 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $2.911 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $8.582 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $7.038 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $1.305 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $1.152 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  $1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Current account balance:
  -$438 million (2017 est.)
  -$1.555 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Exports:
  $3.995 billion (2017 est.)
  $4.003 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Exports - partners:
  South Africa 27.1%, Botswana 14.9%, Switzerland 12%, Zambia 5.7%, China 4.6%, Italy 4.4% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks
  Imports:
  $5.384 billion (2017 est.)
  $5.625 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
  Imports - partners:
  South Africa 61.4% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $2.432 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Debt - external:
  $7.969 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $6.904 billion (31 December 2016 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 -
  13.67 (2017 est.)
  14.7096 (2016 est.)
  14.7096 (2015 est.)
  12.7589 (2014 est.)
  10.8526 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Namibia
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 1.6 million (2013)
  electrification - total population: 32% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 50% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 17% (2013)
  Electricity - production:
  1.403 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Electricity - consumption:
  3.891 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Electricity - exports:
  88 million kWh (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Electricity - imports:
  3.073 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  535,500 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  28% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  27,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  80 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  26,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  3.958 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
- Communications :: Namibia
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 193,125 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 2,647,853 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections (2016)
  domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of about 110 telephones per 100 persons (2016)
  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 submarine cable through South Africa; connected to the West Africa Cable System, an ultra-high capacity fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2016)
  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)
  Internet country code:
  .na
  Internet users:
  total: 756,118 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 31% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 63,894 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
- Transportation :: Namibia
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 553,322 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30,302,405 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  V5 (2016)
  Airports:
  112 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 19 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 4 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 93 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 52 (2013)
  under 914 m: 16 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,628 km (2014)
  narrow gauge: 2,628 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Roadways:
  total: 44,138 km (2010)
  paved: 6,387 km (2010)
  unpaved: 37,751 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Merchant marine:
  total: 9 (2017)
  by type: general cargo 1, other 8 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay
- Military and Security :: Namibia
- Military expenditures:
  4.44% of GDP (2016)
  4.7% of GDP (2015)
  4.18% of GDP (2014)
  3.07% of GDP (2013)
  3.17% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  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)
- 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 borderthe 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 RiverNamibia 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 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 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 and Zemba children are particularly vulnerable; foreign adults and Namibian adults and children are reportedly subjected to forced labor in Chinese-owned retail, construction, and fishing operations
  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; Namibia was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; in 2015, the Child Care and Protection Bill passed, criminalizing child trafficking; the government’s first sex trafficking prosecution remained pending; no new prosecutions were initiated and no trafficking offenders have ever been convicted; accusations of forced labor at Chinese construction and mining companies continue to go uninvestigated; authorities failed to fully implement victim identification and referral processes, which led to the deportation of possible victims (2015)