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 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 became 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 has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. 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. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.


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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: 824,292 km²
Rank: 34
Land: 823,290 km²
Water: 1002 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries
Total: 3,936 km
Border countries: (4) Angola 1376 km; Botswana 1360 km; South Africa 967 km; Zambia 233 km

Coastline: 1572 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources: diamonds copper uranium gold silver lead tin lithium cadmium tungsten 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 land: 80 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 45.5 km³ (1991)

Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought

Geography
Note: first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip


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Population: 2,128,471
Rank: 142
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 higher death rates lower population growth rates and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Growth rate: 0.909% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 127
Below poverty line: 55.8%
Below poverty line note: the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day (2005 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Namibian
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 include 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 1% (includes Oshivambo Herero Nama)

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least) indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 35.9%
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 641,995/female 627,146)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 36,894/female 45,667) (2010 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 21.4 years
Male: 21.3 years
Female: 21.4 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.909% (2010 est.)
Rank: 127

Birth rate: 21.82 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 80

Death rate: 12.97 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 24

Net migration rate: 0.25 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 68

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 37% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
International agreements party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol 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/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 45.52 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 57
Male: 48.89 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 42.05 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 51.95 years
Rank: 210
Male: 52.25 years
Female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 83

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 15.3% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 5
People living with hivaids: 200,000 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 31
Deaths: 5,100 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 43

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 6.9% of GDP (2008)
Rank: 23

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 85%
Male: 86.8%
Female: 83.5% (2001 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2008)

Youth unemployment


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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 type: republic

Capital
Name: Windhoek
Geographic coordinates: 22 34 S 17 05 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 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA
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 on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
Election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4% Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0% Katuutire KAURA 3.0% Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9% Justus GAROEB 2.4% Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3% Hendrick MUDGE 1.2% other 1.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the National Council primarily an advisory body (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held on 26-27 November 2010); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)
Election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7% UDF 4.7% NUDO 2.8% DTA 1.9% other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24 UDF 1 DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 75.3% RDP 11.3% DTA 3.1% NUDO 3.0% UDF 2.4% APP 1.4% RP 0.8% COD 0.7% SWANU 0.6% other 1.3%; seats by party - SWAPO 54 RDP 8 DTA 2 NUDO 2 UDF 2 APP 1 RP 1 COD 1 SWANU 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders: All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]; Congress of Democrats or COD [Benjamin ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Hendrick MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt ICRM IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA NAM OPCW SACU SADC UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIL UNMIS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA
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 Gail Dennise MATHIEU
From the us embassy: 14 Lossen Street Windhoek
From the us mailing address: Private Bag 12,029 Ausspannplatz Windhoek
From the us telephone: [264] (61) 295-8,500
From the us fax: [264] (61) 295-8,603

Flag description: a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace unity tranquility and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

National symbols

National anthem
Name: 'Namibia Land of the Brave'
Lyricsmusic: Axali DOESEB
Note: adopted 1991

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 8% of GDP but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. 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 35-40% 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 one of the world's most unequal income distributions as shown by Namibia's GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010 Namibia drew 40% of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU allotments to Namibia increased in 2009 but will drop for 2010 and 2011 because South Africa went into recession during the global economic crisis reducing overall SACU income. Increased fish production and mining of zinc copper uranium and silver spurred growth in 2003-08 but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches higher costs of producing metals and the global recession.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 137
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 75

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 131
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9%
Industry: 32.7%
Services: 58.2% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: millet sorghum peanuts grapes; livestock; fish

Industries: meatpacking fish processing dairy products; mining (diamonds lead zinc tin silver tungsten uranium copper)

Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 46

Labor force: 729,000 (2010 est.)
Rank: 147
By occupation agriculture: 16.3%
By occupation industry: 22.4%
By occupation services: 61.3% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 36.7% (2004 est.)
Rank: 193

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 55.8%
Note: the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day (2005 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.1%
Highest 10: 53% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index: 70.7 (2003)
Rank: 1

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 15.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 110

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 8.8% (2009 est.)
Rank: 135

Central bank discount rate: 10% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 47

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 13.74% (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 56

Stock of narrow money: $2.495 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Rank: 109

Stock of broad money: $3.691 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 121

Stock of domestic credit: $4.041 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 110

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 101

Current account balance: -$160.9 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 87

Exports: $3.535 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 115
Commodities: diamonds copper gold zinc lead uranium; cattle processed fish karakul skins

Imports: $4.519 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 112
Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel machinery and equipment chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.051 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 100

Debt external: $2.175 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 136

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.57 (2010) 8.4234 (2009) 7.75 (2008) 7.18 (2007) 6.7649 (2006)


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Electricity
Production: 1.491 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 139
Consumption: 2.845 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 128
Exports: 40 million kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 159
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 133
Exports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 90
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 150
Proven reserves: 62.29 billion m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 61

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 142,100 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 134
Mobile cellular: 1.217 million (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 142

Telephone system
General assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital
Domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of nearly 60 telephones per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 per 100 persons
International: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa microwave radio relay link to Botswana direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2008)

Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run television station; satellite and cable TV service is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations operating; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet
Country code: .na
Hosts: 76,020 (2010)
Hosts rank: 80
Users: 127,500 (2009)
Users rank: 151

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 31

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 129 (2010)
Rank: 46
With paved runways total: 21
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 13
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 108
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 71
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 11 (2010)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 2,629 km
Rank: 65
Narrow gauge: 2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Total: 64,189 km
Rank: 72
Paved: 5,477 km
Unpaved: 58,712 km (2010)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 1
Rank: 156
By type: cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals: Luderitz Walvis Bay


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Disputes international: concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; 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 internally displaced persons
Refugees: 4,700 (Angola) (2007)

Illicit drugs