Statistical information Namibia 2018

Namibia in the World
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.
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:
AfricaAreaTotal: 824,292 km²
Land: 823,290 km²
Water: 1002 km²
Rank: 35
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundariesTotal: 4,220 km
Border countries: (4) Angola 1427 km;
, Botswana 1544 km;
, South Africa 1005 km;
, Zambia 244 kmCoastline: 1572 km
Maritime claimsTerritorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
ElevationMean elevation: 1141 m
Elevation extremes: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
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 useAgricultural land: 47.2% (2011 est.)
arable land: 1% (2011 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.2% (2011 est.)
Forest: 8.8% (2011 est.)
Other: 44% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 km² (2012)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulationDistribution: population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola:
2,533,224 (July 2018 est.)
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: 1.91% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 52
Below poverty line: 28.7% (2010 est.)
NationalityNoun: Namibian(s)
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:
Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages .7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
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.
Age structure0-14 years: 36.54% (male 467,392 /female 458,190)
15-24 years: 20.34% (male 257,190 /female 257,984)
25-54 years: 34.74% (male 421,849 /female 458,118)
55-64 years: 4.46% (male 50,459 /female 62,478)
65 years and over: 3.93% (male 42,381 /female 57,183) (2018 est.)
Dependency ratiosTotal dependency ratio: 68.1 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 62.2 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 17.1 (2015 est.)
Median ageTotal: 21.4 years
Male: 20.7 years
Female: 22.2 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 182
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2018 est.)
Rank: 52
Birth rate: 26.8 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 45
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 101
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 94
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola
UrbanizationUrban population: 50% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change
Major urban areasPopulation: 404,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2018)
EnvironmentCurrent issues: depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching
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 pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth:
21.5 years (2013 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateTotal: 33.8 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 36 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 31.6 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 54
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 64.4 years (2018 est.)
Male: 62.7 years (2018 est.)
Female: 66.2 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 189
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 47
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 56.1% (2013)
Drinking water sourceUrban: 1.8% of population
Rural: 15.4% of population
Total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
Current health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1000 population (2009)
Sanitation facility accessUrban: 45.5% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 83.2% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
Hiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: 12.1% (2017 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 7
People living with hivaids: 200,000 (2017 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 30
Deaths: 2,700 (2017 est.)
Deaths rank: 41
Major infectious diseasesDegree of risk: high (2016)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
Vectorborne diseases: malaria (2016)
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 17.2% (2016)
Rank: 119
Alcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.2% (2013)
Rank: 51
Education expenditures: 8.3% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 8
LiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 81.9% (2015 est.)
Male: 79.2% (2015 est.)
Female: 84.5% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Conventional short form: Namibia
Local long form: Republic of Namibia
Local short form: Namibia
Former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch Suedwest Afrika), 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
CapitalName: WindhoekGeographic 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: 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 areasIndependence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
ConstitutionHistory: drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990 (2017)
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 (2017)
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
CitizenshipCitizenship 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 branchChief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)
Election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 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 branchDescription:bicameral Parliament consists of:
National Council (42 seats); members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly
National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president)
Elections:
National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 27 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020)
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 branchHighest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
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: All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) [Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK]Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI]National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Asser MBAI]Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Jeremiah NAMBINGA]Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB]United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB]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 representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge dAffaires Helena Elizabeth GRAY (since 26 March 2018)
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 Lisa A. JOHNSON (since 21 November 2017)
From the us embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
From the us mailing address: Private Bag 12,029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
From the us telephone: [264] (061) 295-8,500
From the us FAX: [264] (061) 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 anthemName: Namibia, Land of the Brave
Lyricsmusic: Axali DOESEB:
note: adopted 1991
National heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% 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 one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. 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; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment. GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 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:
$26.6 billion (2017 est.)
$26.81 billion (2016 est.)
$26.62 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Rank: 139
Real gdp growth rate:
-0.8% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
6.1% (2015 est.)
Rank: 200
Real gdp per capita:
$11,200 (2017 est.)
$11,500 (2016 est.)
$11,700 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Rank: 135
Gross national saving:
16.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
9.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
19.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 125
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useHousehold consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 36.7% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -47.5% (2017 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 6.7% (2016 est.)
Industry: 26.3% (2016 est.)
Services: 67% (2017 est.)
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: -0.4% (2017 est.)
Rank: 171
Labor force: 956,800 (2017 est.)
Rank: 146
By occupation agriculture: 31%
By occupation industry: 14%
By occupation services: 54% (2013 est.)
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
Unemployment rate:
34% (2016 est.)
28.1% (2014 est.)
Rank: 210
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 28.7% (2010 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: 42% (2010)
Highest 10: 42% (2010)
Distribution of family income gini index:
59.7 (2010)
70.7 (2003)
Rank: 6
BudgetRevenues: 4.268 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 5 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 173
Taxes and other revenues: 32.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 68
Public debt:
41.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
39.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 121
RevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer prices:
6.1% (2017 est.)
6.7% (2016 est.)
Rank: 187
Central bank discount rate:
7% (12 April 2017)
6.5% (31 December 2015)
Rank: 51
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.04% (31 December 2017 est.)
9.84% (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 85
Stock of narrow money:
$3.425 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.911 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 116
Stock of broad money:
$3.425 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.911 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 122
Stock of domestic credit:
$8.582 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.038 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 114
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.)
Rank: 103
Current account balance:
-$438 million (2017 est.)
-$1.555 billion (2016 est.)
Rank: 115
Exports:
$3.995 billion (2017 est.)
$4.003 billion (2016 est.)
Rank: 119
Partners: South Africa 27.1%, Botswana 14.9%, Switzerland 12%, Zambia 5.7%, China 4.6%, Italy 4.4% (2017)
Commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks
Imports:
$5.384 billion (2017 est.)
$5.625 billion (2016 est.)
Rank: 123
Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Partners: South Africa 61.4% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.432 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 115
Debt external:
$7.969 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.904 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 123
Stock of direct foreign investment at home: NA
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: NA
Exchange rates:
13.67 (2017 est.)
14.7096 (2016 est.)
14.7096 (2015 est.)
12.7589 (2014 est.)
10.8526 (2013 est.)
top of pageElectricityAccess population without electricity: 1.6 million (2013)
Access electrification total population: 32% (2013)
Access electrification urban areas: 50% (2013)
Access electrification rural areas: 17% (2013)
Production: 1.403 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 145
Consumption: 3.891 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 128
Exports: 88 million kWh (2015 est.)
Exports rank: 83
Imports: 3.073 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 50
Installed generating capacity: 535,500 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 146
Generation sources fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 187
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 150
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 26
Generation sources other renewable sources: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 89
CoalPetroleumPetroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 178
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 171
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 172
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 174
Crude oilRefined petroleumProducts production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 183
Products consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 125
Products exports: 80 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 120
Products imports: 26,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 105
Natural gasProduction: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 175
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 179
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 157
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 162
Proven reserves: 62.29 billion m³ (1 January 2018 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 60
Carbon dioxide emissionsFrom consumption of energy: 3.958 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 139
Energy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesFixed lines total subscriptions: 193,125 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 125
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 2,647,853 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 143
Telephone systemGeneral assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections (2016)
Domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of about 110 telephones per 100 persons (2016)
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 (2016)
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)
InternetCountry code: .na
Users total: 756,118 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 31% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 140
Broadband fixed subscriptionsTotal: 63,894 (2017 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2017 est.)
Rank: 127
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)
Rank: 11
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Space programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemNumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 553,322 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30,302,405
Note: mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V5 (2016)
Airports: 112 (2013)
Rank: 52
With paved runways total: 19 (2017)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 93 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 52 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 16 (2013)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 2,628 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 2,628 km
Note: 1.067-m gauge (2014)
Rank: 65
RoadwaysTotal: 44,138 km (2010)
Paved: 6,387 km (2010)
Unpaved: 37,751 km (2010)
Rank: 83
WaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 9 (2017)
By type: general cargo 1, other 8 (2017)
Rank: 154
Ports and terminalsMajor seaport: Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Namibia - Transnational issues 2018
top of pageDisputes 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 borderthe 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 RiverNamibia 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 personsIllicit drugs