Statistical information Namibia 2017
Namibia in the World
Namibia - Introduction 2017
top of pageBackground: 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 though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in 2014 in a landslide victory replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.
Namibia - Geography 2017
top of pageLocation: 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
Land: 823,290 km²
Water: 1002 km²
Rank: 35
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries
Total: 4,220 km
Border countries: (4) Angola 1427 km; Botswana 1544 km; South Africa 1005 km; Zambia 244 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
Mean elevation: 1141 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m: highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 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
Land use
Agricultural land: 47.2%
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pasture: 46.2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pasture: 46.2%
Forest: 8.8%
Other: 44%
Irrigated land: 80 km² (2012)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
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
Namibia - People 2017
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: population density is very low with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola: 2,484,780
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
Rank: 142
Growth rate: 1.95% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 45
Below poverty line: 28.7% (2010 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 indigenous ethnic groups include Herero 7% Damara 7% Nama 5% Caprivian 4% San 3% Baster 2% Tswana 0.5%
Languages: Oshivambo languages 48.9% Nama/Damara 11.3% Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population) Otjiherero languages 8.6% Kavango languages 8.5% Caprivi languages 4.8% English (official) 3.4% other African languages 2.3% other 1.7%
Note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages
Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran) indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Demographic profile:
Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990 Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011 rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use higher educational attainment among women and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant but the age at first marriage continues to increase indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.
The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration historically male-dominated generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural mining and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa restrictions on internal movement eased and rural-urban migration increased bolstering urban growth.
Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated more affluent and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and much less frequently to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola Zambia Zimbabwe or Botswana to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland have a strong national identity and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.
The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration historically male-dominated generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural mining and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa restrictions on internal movement eased and rural-urban migration increased bolstering urban growth.
Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated more affluent and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and much less frequently to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola Zambia Zimbabwe or Botswana to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland have a strong national identity and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 36.97%
15-24 years: 20.35%
25-54 years: 34.37%
55-64 years: 4.35%
65 years and over: 3.96% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.1
Youth dependency ratio: 62.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.8
Potential support ratio: 17.1
Median age
Total: 21.2 years
Male: 20.4 years
Female: 21.9 years
Rank: 183
Population growth rate: 1.95% (2017 est.)
Rank: 45
Birth rate: 27.3 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 46
Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 96
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 100
Population distribution: population density is very low with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola
Urbanization
Urban population: 48.6% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.63% annual rate of change
Major urban areas
Population: WINDHOEK (capital) 368,000 (2015)
Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater 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
0-14 years: 1.02 male/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male/female
25-54 years: 0.91 male/female
55-64 years: 0.82 male/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male/female
Total population: 0.96 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.5 years
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: 35.1 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 37.3 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 32.8 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 55
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64 years
Male: 62.4 years
Female: 65.6 years
Rank: 189
Total fertility rate: 3.29 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 47
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 56.1% (2013)
Drinking water source:
urban: 98.2% of population
rural: 84.6% of population
total: 91% of population
urban: 1.8% of population
rural: 15.4% of population
total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 84.6% of population
total: 91% of population
urban: 1.8% of population
rural: 15.4% of population
total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
Current health expenditure
Physicians density: 0.37 physicians/1000 population (2007)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1000 population (2009)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 54.5% of population
rural: 16.8% of population
total: 34.4% of population
urban: 45.5% of population
rural: 83.2% of population
total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 16.8% of population
total: 34.4% of population
urban: 45.5% of population
rural: 83.2% of population
total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 13.8% (2016 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 5
People living with hivaids: 230,000 (2016 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 24
Deaths: 4,300 (2016 est.)
Deaths rank: 32
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
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 17.2% (2016)
Rank: 119
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.2% (2013)
Rank: 37
Education expenditures: 8.3% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 9
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 81.9%
Male: 79.2%
Female: 84.5%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Namibia - Government 2017
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Conventional short form: Namibia
Local long form: Republic of Namibia
Local short form: Namibia
Former: German South-West Africa South-West Africa
Etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name 'namib' means 'vast place' in the Nama/Damara language
Government type: presidential republic
Capital
Name: Windhoek
Geographic coordinates: 22 34 S 17 05 E
Time difference: UTC+1
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Administrative divisions: 14 regions; Erongo Hardap //Karas Kavango East Kavango West Khomas Kunene Ohangwena Omaheke Omusati Oshana Oshikoto Otjozondjupa Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
Dependent areas
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day 21 March (1990)
Constitution
History: drafted 9 February 1990 signed 16 March 1990 entered into force 21 March 1990
Amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent by the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed; amended 1998 2010 2014
Legal system: mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Hage GEINGOB ; Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
Electionsappointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term ; election last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)
Election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB 86.7% McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0% Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4% Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9% Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0% other 2.0%
Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the National Council which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (42 seats); members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 27 November 2015 ; National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)
Election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 40 NUDO 1 DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 80.0% DTA 4.8% RDP 3.5% APP 2.3% UDF 2.1% NUDO 2.0% CPN 1.5% other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77 DTA 5 RDP 3 APP 2 UDF 2 NUDO 2 CPN 2 SWANU 1 UPM 1 RP 1
Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65 but terms can be extended by the president until age 70
Subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
Political parties and leaders:
United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB]
United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C CD CPLP (associate observer) FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OPCW SACU SADC UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNISFA UNMIL UNMISS 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] 986-0540
In the us FAX: [1] 986-0443
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON
From the us embassy: 14 Lossen Street Windhoek
From the us mailing address: Private Bag 12,029 Ausspannplatz Windhoek
From the us telephone: [264] 295-8,500
From the us FAX: [264] 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 golden-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 golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources
National symbols: oryx (antelope); national colors: blue red green white yellow
National anthem
Name: 'Namibia Land of the Brave'
Lyrics and music: Axali DOESEB
Note: adopted 1991
National heritage
Namibia - Economy 2017
top of pageEconomy overview:
Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 11.5% of GDP but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds especially from the sea combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials do more in-country manufacturing and exploit the services market especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.
Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine is expected to start producing uranium ore in 2017. Once the Husab mine reaches full production Namibia is expected to become the world’s second-largest producer of uranium. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought.
Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP relative to the region obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions. A priority of the current government is poverty eradication. Despite a drought real GDP growth remained strong in 2015 around 5.3% because of construction in the mining and housing sectors coupled with expansionary fiscal policy. GDP growth in 2016 slowed to 1% however due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors as well as the ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2017 and 2018.
A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.
Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine is expected to start producing uranium ore in 2017. Once the Husab mine reaches full production Namibia is expected to become the world’s second-largest producer of uranium. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought.
Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP relative to the region obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions. A priority of the current government is poverty eradication. Despite a drought real GDP growth remained strong in 2015 around 5.3% because of construction in the mining and housing sectors coupled with expansionary fiscal policy. GDP growth in 2016 slowed to 1% however due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors as well as the ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2017 and 2018.
A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$26.35 billion (2016 est.)
$25.74 billion (2015 est.)
$24.02 billion (2014 est.)
$25.74 billion (2015 est.)
$24.02 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 136
Real gdp growth rate:
1.1% (2016 est.)
6% (2015 est.)
6.4% (2014 est.)
6% (2015 est.)
6.4% (2014 est.)
Rank: 189
Real gdp per capita:
$11,300 (2016 est.)
$11,400 (2015 est.)
$11,000 (2014 est.)
$11,400 (2015 est.)
$11,000 (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 134
Gross national saving:
11.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
20.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
24.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
20.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
24.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 151
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 73.3%
Government consumption: 25.1%
Investment in fixed capital: 24.1%
Investment in inventories: 1.5%
Exports of goods and services: 42.7%
Imports of goods and services: -66.7%
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.2%
Industry: 25.9%
Services: 67.9%
Agriculture products: millet sorghum peanuts grapes; livestock; fish
Industries: meatpacking fish processing dairy products pasta beverages; mining (diamonds lead zinc tin silver tungsten uranium copper)
Industrial production growth rate: -9% (2016 est.)
Rank: 198
Labor force: 939,600 (2016 est.)
Rank: 147
By occupation agriculture: 31%
By occupation industry: 14%
By occupation services: 54%
By occupation note: about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
28.1% (2014 est.)
29.6% (2013 est.)
29.6% (2013 est.)
Rank: 200
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line: 28.7% (2010 est.)
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.4%
Highest 10: 42%
Distribution of family income gini index:
59.7 (2010)
70.7 (2003)
70.7 (2003)
Rank: 7
Budget
Revenues: $3.502 billion
Expenditures: $4.197 billion
Surplus or deficit: -6.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 177
Taxes and other revenues: 32.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 64
Public debt:
40.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
39.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
39.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 132
Revenue
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer prices:
6.7% (2016 est.)
3.4% (2015 est.)
3.4% (2015 est.)
Rank: 186
Central bank discount rate:
7% (12 April 2017)
6.5% (31 December 2015)
6.5% (31 December 2015)
Rank: 47
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.87% (31 December 2016 est.)
9.32% (31 December 2015 est.)
9.32% (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 82
Stock of narrow money:
$2.898 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.582 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.582 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 117
Stock of broad money:
$6.281 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$5.271 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$5.271 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 120
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.006 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$5.36 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$5.36 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 118
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.305 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$1.152 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.152 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 104
Current account balance:
$-1.529 billion (2016 est.)
$-1.7 billion (2015 est.)
$-1.7 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 145
Exports:
$4.003 billion (2016 est.)
$4.015 billion (2015 est.)
$4.015 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 113
Commodities: diamonds copper gold zinc lead uranium; cattle white fish and mollusks
Partners: Switzerland 20% South Africa 17.1% Botswana 15% Zambia 6.7% Spain 4.6% Italy 4.2% (2016)
Imports:
$6.441 billion (2016 est.)
$6.914 billion (2015 est.)
$6.914 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 111
Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel machinery and equipment chemicals
Partners: South Africa 57.1% Botswana 6.8% Zambia 4.1% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.688 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.688 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 120
Debt external:
$6.904 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$6.155 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$6.155 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 124
Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A
Exchange rates:
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
14.7096 (2016 est.)
14.7096 (2015 est.)
12.7589 (2014 est.)
10.8526 (2013 est.)
8.2 (2012 est.)
14.7096 (2016 est.)
14.7096 (2015 est.)
12.7589 (2014 est.)
10.8526 (2013 est.)
8.2 (2012 est.)
Namibia - Energy 2017
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 1,600,000
Access electrification total population: 32%
Access electrification urban areas: 50%
Access electrification rural areas: 17%
Production: 1.519 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 145
Consumption: 3.771 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 128
Exports: 88 million kWh (2015 est.)
Exports rank: 81
Imports: 2.623 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Imports rank: 51
Installed generating capacity: 514,200 kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 146
Generation sources fossil fuels: 30.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 185
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 208
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 64.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 23
Generation sources other renewable sources: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 88
Coal
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 211
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 210
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 210
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 211
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 212
Products consumption: 25,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 129
Products exports: 79.56 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 123
Products imports: 24,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 108
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 211
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 146
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 209
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 208
Proven reserves: 62.29 billion m³ (1 January 2017 es)
Proven reserves rank: 62
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 4 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 133
Energy consumption per capita
Namibia - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 187,812
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8
Fixed lines rank: 128
Mobile cellular total: 2,659,951
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109
Mobile cellular rank: 143
Telephone system
General assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections
Domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of about 110 telephones 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 submarine cable through South Africa; connected to the West Africa Cable System an ultra-high capacity fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2007)
Internet
Country code: .na
Users total: 756,118
Users percent of population: 31.0%
Users rank: 140
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Namibia - Military 2017
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
4.44% of GDP (2016)
4.7% of GDP (2015)
4.18% of GDP (2014)
3.07% of GDP (2013)
3.17% of GDP (2012)
4.7% of GDP (2015)
4.18% of GDP (2014)
3.07% of GDP (2013)
3.17% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 20
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Space program
Terrorist groups
Namibia - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 553,322
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30,302,405 mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V5 (2016)
Airports: 112 (2013)
Rank: 52
With paved runways total: 19
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 93
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 52
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 16
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Total: 2,628 km
Narrow gauge: 2,628 km 1.067-m gauge
Rank: 63
Roadways
Total: 44,138 km
Paved: 6,387 km
Unpaved: 37,751 km
Rank: 83
Waterways
Merchant marine
Total: 1
By type: cargo 1
Rank: 154
Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Luderitz Walvis Bay
Namibia - Transnational issues 2017
top of pageDisputes international
Rank: li>a href='../rankorder/rankorderguide.html'>Guide to Country Comparisons: 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; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of 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
Illicit drugs
