Map of Namibia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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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.


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Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 825,418 km²
Land: 825,418 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

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 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
Extremes highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 64%
Forests and woodland: 22%
Other: 13%

Irrigated land: 40 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Namibian(s)
Adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups:
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%

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

Religions: 80%-90% Christian (50% Lutheran; at least 30% other Christian denominations)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years:
15-64 years:
65 years and over:

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
Current issues Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
International agreements: party to_Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified_Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
All ages:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.48 years (1996 est.), 62.1 years (1995 est.)
Male: 62.85 years (1996 est.), 59.37 years 91,995 est.)
Female: 66.16 years (1996 est.), 64.9 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

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
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1960)
Total population: 38%
Male: 45%
Female: 31%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Conventional short form: Namibia

Government type: Republic

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: 13 districts; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results_Sam NUJOMA elected president by popular vote
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

Legislative branch: Bicameral legislature National Council:Elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1 National Assembly:Elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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 borders

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of 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. 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 6.6% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $3,600 (1994 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Accounts for 10% of GDP; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops_millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate -14% (1993; accounts for 30% 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% (1981 est.)

Unemployment rate: 35% in urban areas (1993 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $941 million
Expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

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: total value. $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports: total value:$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: About $385 million (1994 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Namibia Dollar (N$) per US$1_3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990);
Note: the Namibia Dollar is at par with the South African Rand (R), which circulates freely in Namibia


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Electricity
Capacity: 406,000 kW
Production: 1.29 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 89,722 telephones (1992 est.)
Local: good urban services
Intercity: fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire
International: NA

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96), $54 million, 2% of GDP (FY93/94)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 108
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 14
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 10
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 17
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 58 (1995 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: None

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs