2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

n13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Airports

137 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

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 (2006)

total

21

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 (2006)

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. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since. 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. Geography Namibia

Birth rate

24.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.214 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$2.233 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

22 34 S, 17 06 E

name

Windhoek

time difference

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

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

local long form

Republic of Namibia

local short form

Namibia

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

NAD; ZAR

Current account balance

$572 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$887 million (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joyce BARR

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 Patrick NANDAGO

telephone

[1] (202) 986-0540

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

70.7 (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 world's worst inequality of income distribution. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-06.

Electricity - consumption

2.819 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

80 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

1.6 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)

Electricity - production

1.397 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

NA

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, 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

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

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)

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%

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 November 2009)

head of government

Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)

Exports

$2.321 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2004)

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

[264] (61) 229792

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

11.8%

industry

30.2%

services

58.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.304 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.04 billion (2006 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

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

64.5%

lowest 10%

0.5%

Imports

$2.456 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 85.2%, US (2004)

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

44.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

51.99 deaths/1,000 live births

total

48.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.na

Internet hosts

3,527 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

75,000 (2005) Transportation Namibia

Investment (gross fixed)

25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

80 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

653,000 (2006 est.)

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% (2005)

permanent crops

0.01%

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; 2 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 - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%; 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

elections

National Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)

note

the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Life expectancy at birth

female

42.29 years (2006 est.)

male

44.46 years

total population

43.39 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

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 (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

441,293 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

217,118 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

20.1 years (2006 est.)

male

19.8 years

total

20 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2006)

total

1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$149.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.3% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Namibia

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Namibian Defense Force

Army, Air Wing, Navy (2006)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Nationality

adjective

Namibian

noun

Namibian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Natural resources

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

note

suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Net migration rate

0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

12,770 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

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 [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; 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

2,044,147

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 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

Population growth rate

0.59% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Luderitz, Walvis Bay Military Namibia

Public debt

31.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

232,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

total

2,382 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

11,900 (Angola) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$480 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

5,406 km

total

42,237 km

unpaved

36,831 km (2002)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 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

country code - 264; 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

127,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

495,000 (2005)

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

3.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.3% (2006 est.)