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 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. 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. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.

Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S 17 00 E

Area
Rank: 34
Land: 823,290 km²
Water: 1002 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries
Border countries: (4) Angola 1376 km; Botswana 1360 km; South Africa 967 km; Zambia 233 km

Coastline: 1572 km

Maritime claims
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 highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources: diamonds copper uranium gold silver lead tin lithium cadmium tungsten zinc salt hydropower fish

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.01%
Other: 99.02% (2011)

Irrigated land: 75.73 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 17.72 km³ (2011)

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: 2,198,406
Rank: 143
Growth rate: 0.67% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 147
Below poverty line: 28.7%

Nationality
Adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups: black 87.5% white 6% mixed 6.5%

Languages: Oshiwambo 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%

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran) indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

Age structure
15-24 years: 23.1% (male 256,965/female 251,276)
25-54 years: 35.9% (male 410,736/female 378,678)
55-64 years: 4.8% (male 47,832/female 58,602)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 41,697/female 54,659) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 58.3 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 %
Potential support ratio: 17 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 22.8 years
Female: 22.8 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.67% (2014 est.)
Rank: 147

Birth rate: 20.28 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 83

Death rate: 13.6 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 15

Net migration rate: 0.05 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 76

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 3.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: WINDHOEK (capital) 380,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.4

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 46
Male: 48.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 42.59 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 215
Male: 52.22 years
Female: 51.46 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 98

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 55.1% (2006/07)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.37 physicians/1000 population (2007)

Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 13.3% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 6
People living with hivaids: 220,100 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 27
Deaths: 5,000 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 40

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 9.5% (2008)
Rank: 133

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.5% (2007)
Rank: 39

Education expenditures: 8.4% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 9

Literacy
Total population: 88.8%
Male: 89%
Female: 88.5% (2010 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 11 years
Female: 11 years (2006)

Country name
Conventional short form: Namibia
Local long form: Republic of Namibia
Local short form: Namibia
Former: German South-West Africa (Sued-West Afrika) South-West Africa

Government type: republic

Capital
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: 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

Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday: Independence Day 21 March (1990)

Constitution: drafted 9 February 1990 signed 16 March 1990 entered into force 21 March 1990; amended 1998 2010 (2010)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005); Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB (since 4 December 2012)
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); if no single candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round of voting a run-off election is scheduled between the two candidates with the greatest vote count; election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
Election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4% Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0% Katuutire KAURA 3.0% Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9% Justus GAROEB 2.4% Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3% Hendrick MUDGE 1.2% other 1.8%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the National Council primarily an advisory body (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms an additonal six nonvoting members are appointed by the president)
Elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 26-27 November 2010 (next to be held in 2016); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)
Election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 24 UDF 1 DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 75.3% RDP 11.3% DTA 3.1% NUDO 3.0% UDF 2.4% APP 1.4% RP 0.8% COD 0.7% SWANU 0.6% other 1.3%; seats by party - SWAPO 54 RDP 8 DTA 2 NUDO 2 UDF 2 APP 1 COD 1 RP 1 SWANU 1

Judicial branch
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 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:

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C CD FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO 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 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 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; 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 yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Axali DOESEB

Economy overview: The 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 becoming increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. Namibia is the world's fourth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a small producer of gold and other minerals. The mining and quarrying sectors employs only about 1.8% of the population. 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 as shown by Namibia's 59.7 GINI coefficient. 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 complicates budget planning. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to volatility in the price of uranium and other commodities. The rising cost of mining diamonds increasingly from the sea has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities recognize these issues and have emphasized the need to increase higher value raw materials manufacturing and services especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 139

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 70

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 132

Gross national saving:

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 26.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 22.8%
Investment in inventories: 0.5%
Exports of goods and services: 41.4%
Imports of goods and services: -50.9%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 29.6%
Services: 62.6% (2013 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: 5.6% (2013 est.)
Rank: 48

Labor force: 880,400 (2013 est.)
Rank: 147
By occupation industry: 22.4%
By occupation services: 61.3%

Unemployment rate: 51.2% (2008 est.)
Rank: 176

Population below poverty line: 28.7%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 42% (2010)

Distribution of family income gini index: 70.7 (2003)
Rank: 6

Budget
Expenditures: $5.126 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -6.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 184

Taxes and other revenues: 35.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 65

Public debt: 25.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 127

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.5% (2012 est.)
Rank: 162

Central bank discount rate: 12% (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 19

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 8.7% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 104

Stock of narrow money: $2.941 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 118

Stock of broad money: $7.228 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 114

Stock of domestic credit: $6.266 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 108

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 97

Current account balance: -$414 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 109

Exports: $4.883 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 114
Commodities: diamonds copper gold zinc lead uranium; cattle white fish and mollusks

Imports: $6.44 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 113
Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel machinery and equipment chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.738 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 118

Debt external: $4.292 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 126

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 1.331 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Production rank: 142
Consumption: 4.238 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 122
Exports: 89 million kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 77
Imports: 2.907 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 47
Installed generating capacity: 487,000 kW (2013 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 141
Generation sources fossil fuels: 31.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 177
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 203
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 68.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 23
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 139

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 143
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 204
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 140
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 205

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products production rank: 207
Products consumption: 22,990 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 124
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 143
Products imports: 20,810 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products imports rank: 104

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 207
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 207
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 206
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 147
Proven reserves: 62.29 billion m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 63

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 3.217 million Mt (2011 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 171,000 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 130
Mobile cellular: 2.435 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 137

Telephone system
Domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of more than 100 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 (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2010)

Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet
Country code: .na
Hosts: 78,280 (2012)
Hosts rank: 84
Users: 127,500 (2009)
Users rank: 151

Military expenditures:
Rank: 19

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Airports: 112 (2013)
Rank: 52
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 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 52
With unpaved runways: 16 (2013)

Railways
Rank: 64
Narrow gauge: 2,626 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Rank: 82
Paved: 6,387 km
Unpaved: 37,751 km (2010)

Merchant marine
Rank: 152
By type: cargo 1 (2010)

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; 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