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 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. 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.

Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S 17 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 825,418 km²
Land: 825,418 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries
Total: 3,936 km
Border countries: (4) Angola 1,376 km; , Botswana 1,360 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
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)

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

Population
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 2008 est.)
Growth rate: 0.947% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Namibian
Adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups
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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 386,252/female 379,426)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 627,752/female 615,241)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 35,960/female 44,038) (2008 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.7 years
Male: 20.6 years
Female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.947% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 23.19 births/1000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 14.07 deaths/1000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (2008 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 45.64 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 49.24 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 41.93 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 49.89 years
Male: 50.39 years
Female: 49.38 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 210,000 (2001 est.)
Deaths: 16,000 (2003 est.)

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 (2008)

Education expenditures: 6.9% of GDP (2003)

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: 11 years
Male: 11 years
Female: 11 years (2006)

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)
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 15 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)
Election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

Legislative branch
Elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)
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 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1
Note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

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

Political parties and leaders: Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben 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 [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; 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 IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM (observer) IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU MIGA NAM OPCW SACU SADC UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIL UNMIS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO
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 G. 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

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 half 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. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Increased payments from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence but SACU payments will decline after 2008 as part of a new revenue sharing formula. Increased fish production and mining of zinc copper uranium and silver spurred growth in 2003-07 but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches and high costs for metal inputs.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $10.69 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 3.6% (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $5,200 (2007 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10.6%
Industry: 35.4%
Services: 53.9% (2007 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: 9% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 660,000 (2007 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 47%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 33% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.2% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 0.5%
Highest 10: 64.5% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 70.7 (2003)

Budget
Revenues: $2.765 billion
Expenditures: $2.515 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate: 10.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 12.88% (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit: $4.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $541.8 million (2006)

Current account balance: $805.2 million (2007 est.)

Exports: $2.919 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: diamonds copper gold zinc lead uranium; cattle processed fish karakul skins
Partners: South Africa 33.4% US 4% (2006)

Imports: $3.091 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel machinery and equipment chemicals
Partners: South Africa 85.2% US (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $896 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt external: $1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.18 (2007) 6.7649 (2006) 6.3593 (2005) 6.4597 (2004) 7.5648 (2003)

Electricity
Production: 1.606 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption: 3.194 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Exports: 40 million kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 1.948 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2006 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Proven reserves: 62.29 billion m³ (1 January 2008 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 138,100 (2007)
Mobile cellular: 800,300 (2007)

Telephone system
General assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 45 per 100 persons
Domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area
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 (2007)

Internet
Country code: .na
Hosts: 6,296 (2008)
Users: 101,000 (2007)

Military expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Airports: 137 (2007)
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 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 116
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 22
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 72
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Railways
Total: 2,382 km
Narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways
Total: 42,237 km
Paved: 5,406 km
Unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Merchant marine
Total: 1
By type: cargo 1
Registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Luderitz Walvis Bay

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 country of origin: 4,700 (Angola) (2007)