2010 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 became 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. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.

Area

land

823,290 sq km

total

824,292 sq km

water

1,002 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

highest point

Konigstein 2,606 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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)

per capita

148 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)

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

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% (2005)

permanent crops

0.01%

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, 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: 35.9% (male 381,904/female 375,059) 15-64 years: 60.2% (male 641,995/female 627,146) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 36,894/female 45,667) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

21.82 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

12.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

6.9% of GDP (2008)

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

15.3% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,100 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

200,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

48.89 deaths/1,000 live births

total

45.52 deaths/1,000 live births

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

female

51.64 years (2010 est.)

male

52.25 years

total population

51.95 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

83.5% (2001 census)

male

86.8%

total population

85%

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 (2009)

Median age

female

21.4 years (2010 est.)

male

21.3 years

total

21.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Namibian

noun

Namibian(s)

Net migration rate

0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

2,128,471 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.909% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2008)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

37% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

geographic coordinates

22 34 S, 17 05 E

name

Windhoek

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

local long form

Republic of Namibia

local short form

Namibia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gail Dennise MATHIEU

embassy

14 Lossen Street, Windhoek

FAX

[264] (61) 295-8603

mailing address

Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek

telephone

[264] (61) 295-8500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Martin ANDJABA

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)

election results

Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0%, Katuutire KAURA 3.0%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9%, Justus GAROEB 2.4%, Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3%, Hendrick MUDGE 1.2%, other 1.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

head of government

Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)

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; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

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, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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, primarily an advisory body (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms), and the National Assembly (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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 75.3%, RDP 11.3%, DTA 3.1%, NUDO 3.0%, UDF 2.4%, APP 1.4%, RP 0.8%, COD 0.7%, SWANU 0.6%, other 1.3%; seats by party - SWAPO 54, RDP 8, DTA 2, NUDO 2, UDF 2, APP 1, RP 1, COD 1, SWANU 1

elections

National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held on 26-27 November 2010); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Axali DOESEB note: adopted 1991

name

"Namibia, Land of the Brave"

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Political parties and leaders

All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]; Congress of Democrats or COD [Benjamin 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 [Hendrick MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]; 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

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2009) 10% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.12% (31 December 2009 est.) 13.74% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$187 million (2010 est.) -$160.9 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.373 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.175 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

70.7 (2003)

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 35-40% 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, as shown by Namibia's GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010, Namibia drew 40% of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU allotments to Namibia increased in 2009, but will drop for 2010 and 2011 because South Africa went into recession during the global economic crisis, reducing overall SACU income. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-08, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches, higher costs of producing metals, and the global recession.

Electricity - consumption

2.845 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

1.491 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.57 (2010), 8.4234 (2009), 7.75 (2008), 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006)

Exports

$4.277 billion (2010 est.) $3.535 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

9%

industry

32.7%

services

58.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,900 (2010 est.) $6,700 (2009 est.) $6,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2010 est.) -0.8% (2009 est.) 4.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.45 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.64 billion (2010 est.) $14.06 billion (2009 est.) $14.17 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 53% (2008)

Imports

$5.152 billion (2010 est.) $4.519 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.6% (2010 est.) 8.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

729,000 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

16.3%

industry

22.4%

services

61.3% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$846.3 million (31 December 2009) $618.7 million (31 December 2008) $702 million (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

22,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

19,120 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

55.8% note: 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 (2005 est.)

Public debt

20% of GDP (2010 est.) 15.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.961 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.051 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.756 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.691 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$5.122 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.041 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.049 billion (31 December 2010 est) $2.495 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

51.2% (2008 est.) 36.7% (2004 est.)

Broadcast media

1 private and 1 state-run television station; satellite and cable TV service is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations operating; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.na

Internet hosts

76,020 (2010)

Internet users

127,500 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of nearly 60 telephones per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 per 100 persons

general assessment

good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital

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 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

142,100 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.217 million (2009)

Airports

129 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

108 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 11 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2010)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways

narrow gauge

2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

2,629 km

Roadways

paved

5,477 km

total

64,189 km

unpaved

58,712 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 554,531 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 341,783 females age 16-49: 304,496 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

25,790 (2010 est.)

male

26,152

Military branches

Namibian Defense Force (NDF)

Army, Navy, Air Force (2010)

Military expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

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) page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================