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.
Geography ::Namibia
Location:
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 824,292 sq km
country comparison to the world: 34
land:
823,290 sq km
water:
1,002 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 3,936 km
border countries:
Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:
1,572 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
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
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
Population:
2,128,471
42
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.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 376,775/female 369,926)
15-64 years:
60.9% (male 656,822/female 639,692)
65 years and over:
4% (male 37,871/female 47,385) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.4 years
male:
21.3 years
female:
21.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.909% (2010 est.)
29
Birth rate:
21.82 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
12.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
5
Net migration rate:
0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 45.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
48.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.95 years
10
male:
52.25 years
female:
51.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
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)
Nationality:
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective:
Namibian
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%
Religions:
Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
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)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85%
male:
86.8%
female:
83.5% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male:
11 years
female:
11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.9% of GDP (2003)
6
Government ::Namibia
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
Government type:
republic
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
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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 on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in
2014)
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)
elections:
National
Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the
National Council held on 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in
November 2010); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009
(next to be held in November 2014)
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
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)
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Morven Masuso LUSWENYO
chancery:
1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 986-0540
FAX:
[1] (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise MATHIEU
embassy:
14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address:
Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone:
[264] (61) 295-8500
FAX:
[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; 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
Economy ::Namibia
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. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.58 billion (2009 est.)
38
$13.49 billion (2008 est.)
$13.06 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.145 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2009 est.)
03
3.3% (2008 est.)
5.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,400 (2009 est.)
29
$6,500 (2008 est.)
$6,300 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.6%
industry:
34.2%
services:
56.2% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
716,000 (2009 est.)
48
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 16.3%
industry:
22.4%
services:
61.3% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
51.2% (2008 est.)
93
36.7% (2004 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.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
14
$1.293 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.184 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
46
$807.3 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 8.54 (2009), 7.75 (2008), 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005)
Communications ::Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:
140,000 (2008)
37
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.052 million (2008)
42
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital
domestic:
multiple
mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of 50
telephones per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular
teledensity about 55 per 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 the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South
Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2007)
Internet country code:
.na
Internet hosts:
17,840 (2009)
05
Internet users:
113,500 (2008)
49
Transportation ::Namibia
Airports:
129 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 44
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 108
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
22
914 to 1,523 m:
73
under 914 m:
11 (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,629 km
country comparison to the world: 65
narrow gauge:
2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 64,189 km
country comparison to the world: 71
paved:
5,477 km
unpaved:
58,712 km (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
56
by type:
cargo 1
registered in other countries:
1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Military ::Namibia
Military branches:
Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Wing (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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:
male: 26,152
female:
25,790 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 33
Transnational Issues ::Namibia
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)
