Statistical information Namibia 1994

Namibia in the World
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.
top of pageLocation: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal area total: 825,418 km²
Land: 825,418 km²
Land boundaries: total 3,824 km, Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationNatural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore
Land useArable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 64%
Forest and woodland: 22%
Other: 13%
Irrigated land: 40 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 1,595,567 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.45% (1994 est.)
Nationality: noun:Namibian(s)
Ethnic groups: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
Note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe
Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages
Religions: Christian
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.45% (1994 est.)
Birth rate: 43.4 births/1000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate: 8.87 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: very limited natural water resources; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 61.8 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 61.65 years
Male: 58.97 years
Female: 64.4 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
Total population: 38%
Male: 45%
Female: 31%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form:Republic of Namibia
conventional short form
Government type: republic
Capital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions: 13 districts; Erango, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Liambezi, Ohanguena, Okarango, Omaheke, Omusat, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990; election 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)
Legislative branch: National Defense Force (Army), Police
National Council: elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1
National Assembly: elections 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representationFrom the us chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard F. JETER
From the us chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
From the us telephone: [264] (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680
From the us fax: (202) 986-0443
From the us embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 9,890, Windhoek 9,000
From the us FAX: [264] (61) 229-792
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.5% (1992)
Real gdp per capita: $2,500 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 15% of GDP; 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: 4.9% (1991; accounts for 35% of GDP, including mining
Labor force: 500,000
By occupation agriculture: 60%
By occupation industry and commerce: 19%
By occupation services: 8%
By occupation government: 7%
By occupation mining: 6% (1981est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1992)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$941 million
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.289 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan
Imports: $1.178 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
Partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: about $220 million (1992 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.4096 (January 1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 490,000 kW
Production: 1.29 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 850 kWh (1991)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY92)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 136
Usable: 109
With permanentsurface runways: 21
With runways over 3659 m: 1
With runways 2440-3659 m: 4
With runways 1220-2439 m: 64
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsNamibia - Transnational issues 1994
top of pageDisputes international: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with South Africa over Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands has been resolved and these territories were transferred to Namibian sovereignty on 1 March 1994
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs