Statistical information Namibia 1992
Namibia in the World
Namibia - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: 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.
Namibia - Geography 1992
top of pageLocation
Geographic coordinates
Map reference
Area
Total: 824,290 km²
Land: 823,290 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
3,935 km total; Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km,
South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km
South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,489 km
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes:
short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; disputed island with Botswana in the Chobe River; quadripoint with Botswana,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands administered by South Africa; Namibia and South Africa have agreed to jointly administer the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by joint administration arrangements have not been established at this time, and Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entire area; recent dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Sidudu Island in the Linyanti River
Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands administered by South Africa; Namibia and South Africa have agreed to jointly administer the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by joint administration arrangements have not been established at this time, and Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entire area; recent dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Sidudu Island in the Linyanti River
Maritime claims
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and iron ore
Land use
Land use: arable land: 1%; permanent crops: NEGL%; meadows and pastures 64%; forest and woodland 22%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Namibia - People 1992
top of pagePopulation: 1,574,927 (July 1992), growth rate 3.5% (1992)
Nationality: noun - Namibian(s; adjective - Namibian
Ethnic groups: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%; about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe
Languages: English is official language; Afrikaans is common language of most of population and about 60% of white population, German 32%, English 7%; several indigenous languages
Religions: predominantly Christian
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate: 45 births/1000 population (1992)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (1992)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1992)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification
Current issues note: Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth: 58 years male, 63 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1992)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy: 38% (male 45%, female 31%) age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Namibia - Government 1992
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Government type: republic
Capital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions:
the former administrative structure of 26 districts has been abolished and 14 temporary regions are still being determined; note - the 26 districts were Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi
Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes,
Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe,
Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo,
Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek
Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes,
Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe,
Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo,
Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek
Dependent areas
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: universal at age 18
National Assembly:
last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held by
November 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total)
SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
November 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total)
SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
President: last held 16 February 1990 (next to be held March 1995); results - Sam NUJOMA was elected president by the Constituent Assembly (now the National Assembly)
Executive branch: president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral; House of Review (upper house, to be established with elections in late 1992 by planned new regional authorities; National Assembly (lower house elected by universal suffrage)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, CECA (associate), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
WCL, WFTU, WHO
ICAO, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
WCL, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH; Chancery at 1605 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20,009 (mailing address is PO Box 34,738, Washington, DC 20,043); telephone (202) 986-0540
US:
Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES; Embassy at Ausplan Building, 14
Lossen St., Windhoek (mailing address is P. O. Box 9,890, Windhoek 9,000,
Namibia); telephone 264 (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680; FAX 264 (61) 229-792
Lossen St., Windhoek (mailing address is P. O. Box 9,890, Windhoek 9,000,
Namibia); telephone 264 (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680; FAX 264 (61) 229-792
Diplomatic representation
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 bordersNational symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Namibia - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of
GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten, and it has substantial resources of coal. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood.
GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten, and it has substantial resources of coal. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $2 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 5.1% (1991 est.)
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita ppp
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1988 catch reaching only 384,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in food
Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)
Industrial production growth rate:
growth rate - 6% (1990 est.); accounts for 35% of
GDP, including mining
GDP, including mining
Labor force: 500,000; agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
Organized labor: 20 trade unions representing about 90,000 workers
Labor force
Unemployment rate: over 25% (1991)
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget: revenues $864 million; expenditures $1,112 million, including capital expenditures of $144 million (FY 92)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
Revenue
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports: $1,021 million (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodoties: uranium, diamonds, zinc, copper, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Partners: Switzerland, South Africa, FRG, Japan
Imports: $894 million (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
Partners: South Africa, FRG, US, Switzerland
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 2.8809 (March 1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986)
Namibia - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity access
Electricity production: 490,000 kW capacity; 1,290 million kWh produced, 850 kWh per capita (1991)
Electricity consumption
Electricity exports
Electricity imports
Electricity installed generating capacity
Electricity transmission distribution losses
Electricity generation sources
Petroleum
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Namibia - Communication 1992
top of pageTelephones fixed lines
Telephones mobile cellular
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet country code
Internet users
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Namibia - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp:
exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of
GDP (FY 92)
GDP (FY 92)
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Namibia - Transportation 1992
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports:
137 total, 112 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1
with runways over 3,659 m; 4
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 4
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Airports with paved runways
Airports with unpaved runways
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Namibia - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs