2015 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, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in November 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the November 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.

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 freshwater 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

146 cu m/yr (2002)

total

0.29 cu km/yr (25%/5%/70%)

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

75.73 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Angola 1,427 km, Botswana 1,544 km, South Africa 1,005 km, Zambia 244 km

total

4,220 km

Land use

arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 46.2%

agricultural land

47.2%

forest

8.8%

other

44% (2011 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, 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

17.72 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

30.95% (male 345,767/female 339,026)

15-24 years

23.11% (male 258,586/female 252,773)

25-54 years

36.57% (male 422,026/female 386,948)

55-64 years

4.88% (male 48,406/female 59,545)

65 years and over

4.49% (male 42,635/female 56,595) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

19.8 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.2% (2013)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

55.1% (2006/07)

Death rate

13.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.9%

potential support ratio

17% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

67.3%

youth dependency ratio

61.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.2% of population

rural: 84.6% of population

total: 91% of population

urban: 1.8% of population

rural: 15.4% of population

total: 9% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

8.5% of GDP (2010)

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%

Health expenditures

7.7% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

15.97% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

245,400 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

female

42.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

48.48 deaths/1,000 live births

total

45.62 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%

note

Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

51.18 years (2015 est.)

male

52.05 years

total population

51.62 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.5% (2015 est.)

male

79.2%

total population

81.9%

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 (2013)

Major urban areas - population

WINDHOEK (capital) 368,000 (2015)

Median age

female

23.1 years (2015 est.)

male

23.1 years

total

23.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Namibian

noun

Namibian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.8% (2014)

Physicians density

0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

2,212,307

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.59% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 54.5% of population

rural: 16.8% of population

total: 34.4% of population

urban: 45.5% of population

rural: 83.2% of population

total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2006)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.09 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.81 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

40.1% (2012 est.)

male

29.4%

total

34.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.16% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

46.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language

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

drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990; amended 1998, 2010 (2010)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Namibia

conventional short form

Namibia

former

German South-West Africa (Deutsch Suedwest Afrika), South-West Africa

local long form

Republic of Namibia

local short form

Namibia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON (since 6 October 2014)

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 (since 3 September 2010)

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0%

elections/appointments

president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held on 28 November 2014)

head of government

President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65 but can be extended by the president until age 70

subordinate courts

High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) and the National Council, which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (26 seats; members indirectly elected 2 each by the 13 regional councils to serve 5-year terms)

election results

National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 80.0%, DTA 4.8%, RDP 3.5%, APP 2.3%, UDF 2.1%, NUDO 2.0%, CPN 1.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77, DTA 5, RDP 3, APP 2, UDF 2, NUDO 2, CPN 2, SWANU 1, UPM 1, RP 1

elections

National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 26-27 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Axali DOESEB

name

"Namibia, Land of the Brave"

note

adopted 1991

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

National symbol(s)

oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow

Political parties and leaders

All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]

Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) [Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK]

Congress of Democrats or CoD [Ben ULENGA]

Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI]

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 [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]

South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]

United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus //GAROEB]

United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS

other

various labor unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Budget

expenditures

$5.659 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$5.021 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6% (31 December 2014)

5.5% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9% (31 December 2014 est.)

8.29% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$883 million (2014 est.)

-$782.5 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$6.021 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.845 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

59.7 (2010)

70.7 (2003)

Economy - overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 11.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is becoming increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. The mining and quarrying sectors employ less than 2% of the population. 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. A five-year, Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second Compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment complicates budget planning. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations, and drought. The rising cost of mining diamonds, increasingly from the sea, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities recognize these issues and have emphasized the need to increase higher value raw materials, manufacturing, and services, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -

9.6502 (2014 est.)

8.2099 (2013 est.)

8.2 (2012 est.)

7.2597 (2011 est.)

7.3212 (2010 est.)

Exports

$4.963 billion (2014 est.)

$4.62 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

43.5%

government consumption

29%

household consumption

64.7%

imports of goods and services

-62.7%

investment in fixed capital

27.5%

investment in inventories

-2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

6.2%

industry

30%

services

63.7% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,800 (2014 est.)

$10,200 (2013 est.)

$9,700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.3% (2014 est.)

5.1% (2013 est.)

5.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.35 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.82 billion (2014 est.)

$22.79 billion (2013 est.)

$21.3 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

23.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

20.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

21% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

42% (2010)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

$7.657 billion (2014 est.)

$6.624 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.3% (2014 est.)

5.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

991,000 (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

16.3%

industry

22.4%

note

about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture (2008 est.)

services

61.3%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.305 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.152 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.7% (2010 est.)

Public debt

22.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

23.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.651 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.503 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$7.496 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.574 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$6.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.993 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.867 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

28.1% (2014 est.)

29.6% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.716 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

4.238 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

89 million kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

31.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

68.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.907 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.087 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

1.331 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

26,810 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

20,810 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.na

Internet users

percent of population

14.8% (2014 est.)

total

325,400

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of more than 100 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections

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 (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

180,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2014 est.)

total

2.7 million

Television broadcast stations

2 (2007)

Airports

112 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

12

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

4

total

19

Airports - with unpaved runways

16 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

25

914 to 1,523 m

52

total

93

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2010)

total

1

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways

narrow gauge

2,628 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

2,628 km

Roadways

paved

6,387 km

total

44,138 km

unpaved

37,751 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

568,231 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

311,513 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

351,431

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

26,038 (2010 est.)

male

26,413

Military branches

Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)

Military expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2015)

3.11% of GDP (2012)

3.38% of GDP (2011)

3.11% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

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; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of 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

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Namibia is predominantly a country of origin and destination for children and, to a lesser extent, women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; victims, lured by promises of legitimate jobs, are forced to work in hazardous condition in urban centers and on commercial farms; traffickers exploit Namibian children, as well as children from Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, for forced labor in agriculture, cattle herding, domestic service, fishing, and street vending; children are also forced into prostitution, often catering to tourists from southern Africa and Europe; San girls are particularly vulnerable

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Namibia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; draft anti-trafficking legislation awaits review by the attorney general and the Child Care and Protection Bill, which would criminalize child trafficking, is still pending parliamentary approval; the government developed a national protection referral network for crime victims in 2013, but it has not been fully operationalized; authorities did not make systematic efforts to identify trafficking victims or to screen vulnerable groups for potential victims (2014)