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.

Map reference: Africa

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

Land boundaries: total 3,824 km, 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

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%
Meadows and pastures: 64%
Forest and woodland: 22%
Other: 13%

Irrigated land: 40 km² (1989 est.)

Population: 1,651,545 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 3.44% (1995 est.)

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 include (with approximate share of total population):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: 80%-90% Christian (50% Lutheran; at least 30% other Christian denominations)

Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (female 384,885; male 394,216)
15-64 years: 50% (female 414,283; male 405,938)
65 years and over: 3% (female 26,783; male 25,440) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.44% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 43.04 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 8.61 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Environment
Current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
Current issues natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Current issues international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Infant mortality rate: 59.8 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 62.1 years
Male: 59.37 years
Female: 64.9 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
Total population: 38%
Male: 45%
Female: 31%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Conventional short form: Namibia

Government type: republic

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: 13 districts; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president by popular vote
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
National Council: elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1
National Assembly: elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH
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 Marshall F. McCALLIE
From the us embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
From the us mailing address: Private Bag 12,029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
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

Economy overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP. 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

Real gdp growth rate: 5.8% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $3,600 (1994 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 10% of GDP; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

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

Industrial production growth rate: -14% (1993; accounts for 30% of GDP, including mining

Labor force: 500,000
By occupation agriculture: 60%
By occupation industry and commerce: 19%
By occupation services: 8%
By occupation government: 7%
By occupation mining: 6% (1981est.)

Unemployment rate: 35% in urban areas (1993 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $941 million
Expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan

Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
Partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland

Debt external: about $385 million (1994 est.)

Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.539 (January 1995), 3.5489 (1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990)

Electricity
Capacity: 406,000 kW
Production: 1.29 billion kWh
Production consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)

Telephone system: 62,800 telephones; telephone density - 38/1000 persons
Local: good urban services
Intercity: fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire
International: NA

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $54 million, 2% of GDP (FY93/94)

Airports: 135
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 14
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 20
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 23
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 70

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili ( Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice;