1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Coastline
1,489 km
Comparative area
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Disputes
short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; disputed island with Botswana in the Chobe River; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands administered by South Africa; Namibia and South Africa have agreed to jointly administer the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by joint administration arrangements have not been established at this time, and Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entire area; recent dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Sidudu Island in the Linyanti River
Environment
inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
823,290 km2
Land boundaries
3,935 km total; Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km
Land use
arable land 1%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 64%; forest and woodland 22%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Natural resources
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and iron ore
Note
Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia
Terrain
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
824,290 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
45 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%; about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe
Infant mortality rate
66 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
500,000; agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
Languages
English is official language; Afrikaans is common language of most of population and about 60% of white population, German 32%, English 7%; several indigenous languages
Life expectancy at birth
58 years male, 63 years female (1992)
Literacy
38% (male 45%, female 31%) age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
Nationality
noun - Namibian(s); adjective - Namibian
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
20 trade unions representing about 90,000 workers
Population
1,574,927 (July 1992), growth rate 3.5% (1992)
Religions
predominantly Christian
Total fertility rate
6.5 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
the former administrative structure of 26 districts has been abolished and 14 temporary regions are still being determined; note - the 26 districts were Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek
Capital
Windhoek
Chief of State and Head of Government
President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)
Constitution
ratified 9 February 1990
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH; Chancery at 1605 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 (mailing address is PO Box 34738, Washington, DC 20043); telephone (202) 986-0540
Executive branch
president, Cabinet
Flag
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
Independence
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Legislative branch
bicameral; House of Review (upper house, to be established with elections in late 1992 by planned new regional authorities); National Assembly (lower house elected by universal suffrage)
Long-form name
Republic of Namibia
Member of
ACP, AfDB, CECA (associate), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, WCL, WFTU, WHO
National Assembly
last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held by November 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Other political or pressure groups
NA
Political parties and leaders
South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Dirk MUDGE; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Action Christian National (ACN), Kosie PRETORIUS; National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses KATJIUONGUA; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans DIERGAARDT; Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii RUKORO
President
last held 16 February 1990 (next to be held March 1995); results - Sam NUJOMA was elected president by the Constituent Assembly (now the National Assembly)
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1988 catch reaching only 384,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in food
Budget
revenues $864 million; expenditures $1,112 million, including capital expenditures of $144 million (FY 92)
Currency
South African rand (plural - rand); 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
Economic aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million
Electricity
490,000 kW capacity; 1,290 million kWh produced, 850 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
South African rand (R) per US$1 - 2.8809 (March 1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986)
Exports
$1,021 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: uranium, diamonds, zinc, copper, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins partners: Switzerland, South Africa, FRG, Japan
External debt
about $250 million; under a 1971 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, Namibia may not be liable for debt incurred during its colonial period
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $2 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 5.1% (1991 est.)
Imports
$894 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment partners: South Africa, FRG, US, Switzerland
Industrial production
growth rate - 6% (1990 est.); accounts for 35% of GDP, including mining
Industries
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
17% (1991 - Windhoek)
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, and it has substantial resources of coal. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood.
Unemployment rate
over 25% (1991)
Communications
Airports
137 total, 112 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
NA major transport aircraft
Highways
54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km earth roads and tracks
Ports
Luderitz; primary maritime outlet is Walvis Bay (South Africa)
Railroads
2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Telecommunications
good urban, fair rural services; radio relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV
Military and Security
Branches
National Defense Force (Army), Police
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY 92)
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 320,277; 189,997 fit for military service