1998 Edition

Area

total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Climate

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline

1,572 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Environment-current issues

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

Irrigated land

60 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 22% other: 31% (1993 est.)

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 hazards

prolonged periods of drought

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44% (male 362,310; female 354,386) 15-64 years: 52% (male 414,281; female 426,921) 65 years and over: 4% (male 27,001; female 37,429) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

35.84 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

19.82 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

66.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 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

total population: 41.48 years male: 41.73 years female: 41.24 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

1,622,328 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.6% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.99 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Country name

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

Data code

WA

Executive branch

chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote-76%

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr. (24 July 1996) embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601

[264] (61) 229792

Flag 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

Government type

republic

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), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Veiccoh NGHIWETE chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA]; National Democratic Party for Justice or NDPFJ [Nbhwete NDJOBA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Mishake MUYONGO, president]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; Democratic Coalition of Namibia or DCN [Moses K. KATJIUONGUA] Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council-last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); National Assembly-last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: National Council-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1; National Assembly-percent of vote by party-SWAPO 73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by party-SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1 note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

National capital

Windhoek

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Budget

revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (FY96/97 est.)

Currency

1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$315 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy-overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% 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. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is three to six times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorest countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.

Electricity-capacity

0 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

584 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

0 kWh (1995) note: imports electricity from South Africa

Exchange rates

Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1-4.94193 (January 1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994), 3.26774 (1993)

Exports

total value: $1.45 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins partners: UK, South Africa, Spain, Japan (1994)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$6.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 15% industry: 20% services: 65% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$3,700 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

3% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $1.55 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals partners: South Africa 85%, Germany, US, Japan (1994 est.)

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 price index

8% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 500,000 by occupation: agriculture 49%, industry and commerce 25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 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 note: a fully automated digital network is to be operational by 1997

Telephones

89,722 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

3

Televisions

27,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)

Airports

135 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 113 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 70 under 914 m: 21 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 64,799 km paved: 7,841 km unpaved: 56,958 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine

none

Railways

total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)

Military branches

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$64 million (FY95/96)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.1% (FY95/96)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 369,826 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 221,624 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested