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.

Land boundaries:

Coastline: 1,489 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, lead, tin, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of coal and iron ore

Land use: 1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 64% meadows and pastures; 22% forest and woodland; 13% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Geography
Note: defense is responsibility of South Africa; however, a South-West Africa Territorial Force (with an air element) was established 1 August 1980

Population: 1,372,475 (July 1989), growth rate 5.3% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Namibian(s; adjective - Namibian

Ethnic groups: 86% black, 6.5% white, 7.5% mixed; about half the blacks belong to Ovambo tribe

Languages: Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official; several indigenous languages

Religions: whites predominantly Christian, nonwhites either Christian or indigenous beliefs

Birth rate: 45 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 18 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Environment
Current issues: inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 72 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 57 years male, 62 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1989)

Literacy: 100% whites, 16% nonwhites

Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: former German colony of South-West Africa mandated to South Africa by League of Nations in 1920; UN formally ended South Africa's mandate on 27 October 1966, but South Africa has retained administrative control

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: 26 districts; Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltanhohe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek

Independence: none (under South African administrative control)

National holiday: Settlers' Day, 10 December

Constitution: July 1987 (draft)

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

Suffrage: universal white adult suffrage at territorial level; lower level elections open to blacks

Executive branch: Head of Government South African Administrator General Louis A. PIENAAR (since 30 May 1985; note - South Africa's mandate to administer South West Africa (name changed to Namibia in June 1968), was ended by the UN General Assembly in October 1966; however South Africa is still in occupation of the territory

Legislative branch: NA

International organization participation: FAO, ILO, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none

Flag description: the flag of South Africa is used

Economy overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 40% of GDP, agriculture and fisheries 10-15%, and manufacturing about 5%. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten, and it has substantial resources of coal.

Agriculture products: livestock raising (cattle and sheep) predominates; subsistence crops (millet, sorghum, corn, and some wheat) are grown, but most food must be imported

Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 21% (1984)

Budget: revenues $781 million; expenditures $932 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Exports: $889 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: diamonds, uranium, zinc, copper, meat, processed fish, karakul skins
Partners: South Africa

Imports: $842 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured consumer goods, machinery and equipment
Partners: South Africa, FRG, UK, US

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 2.3866 (January 1989), 2.2609 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2686 (1986), 2.1911 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 432,000 kW capacity; 856 million kWh produced, 660 kWh per capita (1988)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $64 million, 7% of central government budget (FY86)

Airports: 150 total, 135 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 67 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Disputes international: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; South Africa will continue to administer Namibia until UN resolution 435 is implemented on 1 April 1989 and UN-sponsored independence elections are held 1 November 1989