2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346) 15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Airports

135 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)

total

21

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

114 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 71

under 914 m

19 (2002) Military Namibia

Area

land

825,418 sq km

total

825,418 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

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 was soon named 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. Independence came in 1990 following multi-party elections and the establishment of a constitution. President NUJOMA is currently serving his third term as president. Geography Namibia

Birth rate

34.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)

revenues

$883 million

Capital

Windhoek

Climate

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline

1,572 km

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Namibia

conventional short form

Namibia

former

German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Currency

Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)

Currency code

NAD; ZAR

Death rate

19.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$517 million (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE

embassy

Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek

mailing address

Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek

telephone

[264] (61) 221601

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU

Disputes - international

commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge; Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

ODA $160 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. 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 the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment.

Electricity - consumption

603.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)

Electricity - production

26.95 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0%

Elevation extremes

highest point

Konigstein 2,606 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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

Ethnic groups

black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%

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%

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)

election results

Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

head of government

Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002)

Exports

$1.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 79%, US 4% (2001)

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

[264] (61) 229792

telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Namibia

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 Economy Namibia

GDP

purchasing power parity - $13.15 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

11%

industry

28%

services

61% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

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 People Namibia

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

9,172 km

total

66,467 km

unpaved

57,285 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

22.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

230,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 50%, EU 31% (2001)

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

65.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

71.72 deaths/1,000 live births

total

68.44 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (2001)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.na

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

45,000 (2002) Transportation Namibia

Irrigated land

70 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Labor force

725,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km

total

3,936 km

Land use

arable land

0.99%

other

99.01% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

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

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)

election results

National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other 1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,

elections

National Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004)

note

the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Life expectancy at birth

female

41.22 years (2003 est.)

male

44.27 years

total population

42.77 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

83.7% (2003 est.) Government Namibia

male

84.4%

total population

84%

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

Median age

female

18.6 years (2002)

male

17.9 years

total

18.3 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$73.1 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.4% (FY02) Transnational Issues Namibia

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

459,474 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

274,015 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Nationality

adjective

Namibian

noun

Namibian(s)

Natural gas - proved reserves

31.15 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish

note

suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (37257)

Political parties and leaders

Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,927,447

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.49% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

232,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

total

2,382 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire; 100% digital

general assessment

good system; about 6 telephones for each 100 persons

international

fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

110,200 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

82,000 (2000 est.)

Television broadcast stations

8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

60,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

4.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

35% (1998)

Waterways

none