Map of Namibia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | 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: 22 00 S, 17 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 825,418 km²
Land: 825,418 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries
Total: 3,824 km
Border countries: (4) 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: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore

Land use
Arable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 46%
Forests and woodland: 22%
Other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 60 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought

Geography


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Population: 1,648,270 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Namibian(s)
Adjective: Namibian

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; 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: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%), native religions 10% to 20%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (male 366,030; female 358,105)
15-64 years: 52% (male 424,879; female 435,116)
65 years and over: 4% (male 26,787; female 37,353) (1999 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.63 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 19.92 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 65.94 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 41.26 years
Male: 41.64 years
Female: 40.87 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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 can read and write
Total population: 38%
Male: 45%
Female: 31% (1960 est.)

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 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, 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: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Sam 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 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
Election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote_76%

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_last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly_last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
Election results: National Council_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_NA; National Assembly_percent of vote by party_SWAPO 73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by party_SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
Note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

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), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE
In the us chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr.
From the us embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Private Bag 12,029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [264] (61) 221,601
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 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 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 three times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $4,100 (1998 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 11%
Industry: 34%
Services: 55% (1997 est.)

Agriculture products: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)

Labor force: 500,000
By occupation agriculture: 49%
By occupation industry and commerce: 25%
By occupation services: 5%
By occupation government: 18%
By occupation mining: 3% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.1 billion
Expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (FY96/97 est.)

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: $1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Partners: UK 38%, South Africa 24%, Spain 12%, Japan 7% (1996 est.)

Imports: $1.48 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Partners: South Africa 87%, Germany, US, Japan (1995 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $315 million (1996 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1_5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994)


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Electricity
Production: 0 kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: NA%
Production by source hydro: NA%
Production by source nuclear: NA%
Production by source other: NA%
Consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)
Imports note: imports electricity from South Africa

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones: 89,722 (1992 est.)

Telephone system
Domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire
International: NA
Note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $90 million (FY97/98)
Percent of gdp: 2.6% (FY97/98)

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: 135 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 22
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 15
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 113
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 20
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 70
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 2,382 km
Narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs