Africa :: Namibia
page last updated on August 3, 2010
Flag of Namibia
 
Map of Namibia
Introduction ::Namibia
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.
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
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
Land use:
arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
80 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
45.5 cu km (1991)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)
per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
prolonged periods of drought
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
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
country comparison to the world: 142
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.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Birth rate:
21.82 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Death rate:
12.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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
country comparison to the world: 57
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
country comparison to the world: 210
male: 52.25 years
female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
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)
country comparison to the world: 26
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
Administrative divisions:
13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence:
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution:
ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990
Legal system:
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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)
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%
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)
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)
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, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$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.)
country comparison to the world: 103
3.3% (2008 est.)
5.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$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.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 16.3%
industry: 22.4%
services: 61.3% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
51.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 53% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
70.7 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 1
Investment (gross fixed):
23.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Budget:
revenues: $2.759 billion
expenditures: $2.913 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
15.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
18% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
10.3% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
10% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
13.74% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$1.983 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
$2.149 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.158 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 114
$1.493 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.43 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
$4.446 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$967.7 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
$618.7 million (31 December 2008)
$702 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:
-8.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - production:
1.491 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - consumption:
2.845 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - exports:
40 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - consumption:
22,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - imports:
19,120 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - proved reserves:
62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Current account balance:
$240.6 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$178.2 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$3.491 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$3.116 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Imports:
$4.456 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$3.833 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$1.293 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.184 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$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)
country comparison to the world: 137
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.052 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 142
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)
country comparison to the world: 105
Internet users:
113,500 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 149
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: 72
paved: 5,477 km
unpaved: 58,712 km (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 156
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)

Source: The World Factbook (CIA)