| Background: |
South Africa
occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika 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. |
| Location: |
Southern Africa,
bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South
Africa |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
22 00 S, 17 00 E |
| Area: |
total:
825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly more
than half the size of Alaska |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
3,824 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana
1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 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:
1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 31% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
60 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
prolonged periods
of drought |
| Environment
- current issues: |
very limited
natural fresh water resources; desertification |
| 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 |
| Population: |
1,797,677
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 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
42.74% (male 389,028; female 379,229)
15-64 years: 53.54% (male 480,075; female
482,375)
65 years and over: 3.72% (male 29,109; female
37,861) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.38% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
34.71
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
20.9 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
71.66
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 40.62 years
male: 42.48 years
female: 38.71 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
4.83 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
19.54% (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
160,000 (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
18,000 (1999
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: 38%
male: 45%
female: 31% (1960 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West
Africa |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| 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); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Sam Shafishuna
NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
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)
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,
note: the National Council is primarily an
advisory body |
| 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 NUJOMA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, 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
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Jeffrey A. BADER
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street,
Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
mailing address: use embassy street address
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
- overview: |
The economy is
heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of
minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Namibia
is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa
and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich
alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for
gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities
of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the
population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence
agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of
its food. Although per capita GDP is four times the per
capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of
Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of
large-scale unemployment, the great inequality of income
distribution, and the large amount of wealth going to
foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South
Africa. GDP growth in 2000 was led by gains in the diamond
and fish sectors. Agreement has been reached on the
privatization of several more enterprises in coming years,
which should stimulate long-run foreign investment. Growth
in 2001 could be 5.5% provided the world economy remains
stable. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $7.6 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $4,300 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
12%
industry: 25%
services: 63% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
9.1% (2000) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 47%,
industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
30% to 40%,
including underemployment (1997 est.) |
| 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: |
1.198 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
2%
hydro: 98%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
1.948 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
56 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
890 million kWh
note: supplied by South Africa (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
millet, sorghum,
peanuts; livestock; fish |
| Exports: |
$1.4 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
diamonds, copper,
gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul
skins |
| Exports
- partners: |
UK 43%, South
Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.) |
| Imports: |
$1.6 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
foodstuffs;
petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals |
| Imports
- partners: |
South Africa 81%,
US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.) |
| Debt
- external: |
$217 million
(2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$127 million
(1998) |
| Currency: |
Namibian dollar (NAD);
South African rand (ZAR) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Namibian dollars
per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000),
6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935
(1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 April - 31
March |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
100,848 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA |
| 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 |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 34,
shortwave 5 (1998) |
| 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: |
9,000 (1999) |
| Railways: |
total:
2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single
track (1995) |
| Highways: |
total:
63,258 km
paved: 5,250 km
unpaved: 58,008 km (1997 est.) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Luderitz, Walvis
Bay |
| Merchant
marine: |
none (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
131 (2000 est.) |
| 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 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
110
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 18 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
National Defense
Force (Army), Police |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 427,067 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 255,016 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$104.4 million
(2001) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
2.6% (FY97/98) |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
