1996 Edition

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

Location

22 00 S, 17 00 E -- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

land area

825,418 sq km

total area

825,418 sq km

Climate

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline

1,572 km

Environment

current issues

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification

international agreements

party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes

natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

International disputes

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 December 1995, and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ

Irrigated land

40 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

3,824 km

Land use

arable land

1%

forest and woodland

22%

meadows and pastures

64%

other

13%

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Terrain

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

highest point

Konigstein 2,606 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 44% (male 370,090; female 362,185) 15-64 years: 52% (male 428,488; female 449,726) 65 years and over: 4% (male 28,599; female 38,155) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

37.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Infant mortality rate

47.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.16 years (1996 est.)

male

62.85 years

total population

64.48 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1960 est.)

female

31%

male

45%

total population

38%

Nationality

adjective

Namibian

noun

Namibian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

1,677,243 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (1996 est.)

Religions

Christian 80% to 90%, Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%, native religions 10% to 20%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.1 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

13 regions; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Capital

Windhoek

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Data code

WA

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH

telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from the members of National Assembly

chief of state and head of government

President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote NA

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

[264] (61) 229792

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)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Namibia

conventional short form

Namibia

National Assembly

elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

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 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; SWAPO for Justice, Zacharia NJOMBA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Keiphas CONRADIE; Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS; Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP); Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII; Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA; National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Marshall F. McCALLIE

embassy

Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek

mailing address

Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek

telephone

[264] (61) 221601

Agriculture

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$941 million

Currency

1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of 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. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make 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.

Electricity

capacity

406,000 kW

consumption per capita

658 kWh (1991)

production

1.29 billion kWh

Exchange rates

South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991)

Exports

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

partners

Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, UK

External debt

about $385 million (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$3,600 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6.6% (1994 est.)

Imports

$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment

partners

South Africa, Germany, US, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

10% (1994)

Industries

meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11% (1994)

Labor force

500,000

by occupation

agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)

Unemployment rate

35% in urban areas (1993 est.)

Branches

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

377,687

males fit for military service

224,682 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0

Radios

195,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire

international

NA

Telephones

89,722 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

3

Televisions

27,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

108

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

14

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

3

with paved runways over 3 047 m

2

with paved runways under 914 m

10

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

17

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

58 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

4,056 km

total

54,186 km

unpaved

50,130 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways

narrow gauge

2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track

total

2,382 km (1995)