2008 Edition

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. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule.

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%) per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

80 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 3,936 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km

Land use

arable land: 0.99% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

45.5 cu km (1991)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.7% (male 386,252/female 379,426) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 627,752/female 615,241) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 35,960/female 44,038) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

23.19 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

14.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

6.9% of GDP (2003)

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 include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

21.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

210,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 45.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 41.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 49.89 years male: 50.39 years female: 49.38 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 86.8% female: 83.5% (2001 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Median age

total: 20.7 years male: 20.6 years female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate

0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

2,088,669 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

0.947% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Windhoek geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador G. Dennise MATHIEU embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005) 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

[264] (61) 295-8603

Flag description

a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green

Government type

republic

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1 note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Political parties and leaders

Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist group); National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World Information Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Budget

revenues: $2.765 billion expenditures: $2.515 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.88% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

NAD; ZAR

Current account balance

$805.2 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

70.7 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $123.4 million (2005 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. 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 one of the world's most unequal income distributions. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Increased payments from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence, but SACU payments will decline after 2008 as part of a new revenue sharing formula. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-07, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches and high costs for metal inputs.

Electricity - consumption

3.194 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.948 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2006 est.)

Electricity - production

1.606 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

NA

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Exports

$2.919 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2006)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.6% industry: 35.4% services: 53.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.69 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 64.5% (2003)

Imports

$3.091 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 85.2%, US (2006)

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

660,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$541.8 million (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

19,840 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

17,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day

Public debt

22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$896 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$4.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$2.149 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$1.493 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.na

Internet hosts

6,296 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

101,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

232,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 45 per 100 persons domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

138,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

800,300 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2007)

Televisions

60,000 (1997)

Airports

137 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 116 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways

total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 42,237 km paved: 5,406 km unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 527,948 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 313,497 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 25,525 female: 25,182 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Namibian Defense Force

Army, Navy, Air Wing (2008)

Disputes - international

concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008