1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

13 districts; Erango, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Liambezi, Ohanguena, Okarango, Omaheke, Omusat, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Agriculture

accounts for 15% of GDP; 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

Airports

total: 136 usable: 109 with permanent-surface runways: 21 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 64

Area

total area: 825,418 sq km land area: 825,418 sq km comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Birth rate

43.4 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Budget

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

Capital

Windhoek

Climate

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline

1,572 km

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Currency

1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Death rate

8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY92)

Digraph

WA

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 986-0540

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million

Electricity

capacity: 490,000 kW production: 1.29 billion kWh consumption per capita: 850 kWh (1991)

Environment

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Exchange rates

South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.4096 (January 1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); election 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) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

Exports

$1.289 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan

External debt

about $220 million (1992 est.)

FAX

(202) 986-0443

[264] (61) 229-792

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

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

Highways

total: 54,500 km paved: 4,080 km unpaved: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)

Imports

$1.178 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Industrial production

growth rate 4.9% (1991); accounts for 35% of GDP, including mining

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

61.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

17.9% (1992) in urban area

International disputes

short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with South Africa over Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands has been resolved and these territories were transferred to Namibian sovereignty on 1 March 1994

Irrigated land

40 sq km (1989 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

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

Land boundaries

total 3,824 km, Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 64% forest and woodland: 22% other: 13%

Languages

English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.65 years male: 58.97 years female: 64.4 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1960) total population: 38% male: 45% female: 31%

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Angola and South Africa

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 336,145; fit for military service 199,337

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Member of

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

Names

conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia

National Assembly

elections 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 Council

elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.85 billion (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$2,500 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

3.5% (1992)

Nationality

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Other political or pressure groups

NA

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.

Political parties and leaders

South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; 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

Population

1,595,567 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

3.45% (1994 est.)

Ports

Luderitz; Walvis Bay

Railroads

2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Religions

Christian

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

6.4 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

republic

Unemployment rate

30% (1992)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard F. JETER embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek mailing address: P. O. Box 9890, Windhoek 9000 telephone: [264] (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680