from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Namibia
Introduction
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. Namibia won its
independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO
since. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in
November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam
NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of
self rule.
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and South Africa
Geographic 22 00 S, 17 00 E
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly more than half the size of Alaska
comparative:
Land total: 3,936 km
boundaries: border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km,
South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: 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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium,
resources: cadmium, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99% (2005)
Irrigated 80 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural prolonged periods of drought
hazards:
Environment - very limited natural fresh water resources;
current desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation
issues: has led to few conservation areas
Environment - party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
international Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
agreements: Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - first country in the world to incorporate the
note: protection of the environment into its constitution;
some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually
the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
People
Population: 2,044,147
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 2006
est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 20 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.1 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.59% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 24.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 48.1 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 51.99 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 44.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 43.39 years
expectancy at male: 44.46 years
birth: female: 42.29 years (2006 est.)
Total 3.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 21.3% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 210,000 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 16,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
diseases: hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
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
includes 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
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
local long form: Republic of Namibia
local short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 06 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 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas,
divisions: Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana,
Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
holiday:
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 chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21
branch: March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since
21 March 2005)
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 (eligible for a second term); election
last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held November
2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected
president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%,
Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO
4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%
Legislative bicameral legislature consists of the National Council
branch: (26 seats; 2 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 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held November
2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November
2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by
party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%;
seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 75.1%, COD
7.2%, DTA 5%, NUDO 4.1%, UDF 3.5%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%;
seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3,
RP 1, MAG 1
note: the National Council is primarily an advisory
body
Judicial Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the
branch: recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic
parties and Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA,
leaders: president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie
VILJOEN]; South West Africa People's Organization or
SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front
or UDF [Justus GAROEB]; Republican Party or RP [Henk
MUDGE]; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO
[Kuaima RIRUAKO]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
organization ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
participation: IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO
representation chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Joyce BARR
representation embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
from the US: mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz,
Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the
description: 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
Economy - The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and
overview: 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 world's worst
inequality of income distribution. The Namibian economy
is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian
dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.
Privatization of several enterprises in coming years
may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Increased
fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium,
and silver spurred growth in 2003-05.
GDP $14.16 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $4.976 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 3.2% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $7,000 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 9.7%
composition by industry: 31.5%
sector: services: 58.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 820,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 47%
by occupation: industry: 20%
services: 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment 35% (1998)
rate:
Population the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that
below poverty 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8%
line: live on $2 per day
Household lowest 10%: NA% 0.5%
income or highest 10%: NA% 64.5%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 70.7 (2003)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 2.3% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 24.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $1.945 billion
expenditures: $2.039 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 32.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
products:
Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium,
copper)
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 1.464 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - NA
production by
source:
Electricity - 2.372 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 55 million kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 1.065 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South
imports: Africa (2003)
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 16,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: 12,770 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 0 bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Current $509.2 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $2.04 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle,
commodities: processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2004)
partners:
Imports: $2.35 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and
commodities: equipment, chemicals
Imports - South Africa 85.2%, US (2004)
partners:
Reserves of $312.1 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $712.9 million (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - ODA, $160 million (2000 est.)
recipient:
Currency Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
(code):
Currency code: NAD; ZAR
Exchange Namibian dollars per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597
rates: (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications
Telephones - 127,900 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 495,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for
system: 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: country code - 264; 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 AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 232,000 (1997)
Television 8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 60,000 (1997)
Internet .na
country code:
Internet 3,527 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 75,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 137 (2006)
Airports - total: 21
with paved over 3,047 m: 3
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 116
with unpaved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Railways: total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 42,237 km
paved: 5,406 km
unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)
Merchant total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT
marine: by type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and Luderitz, Walvis Bay
terminals:
Military
Military Namibian Defense Force: Army, Air Wing, Navy (2006)
branches:
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 441,293 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Military $149.5 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 2.3% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - border commission has yet to resolve small residual
international: disputes with Botswana 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; 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
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 12,618 (Angola) (2005)
internally
displaced
persons: