Namibia

republic as of 21 March 1990Independence 21 March 1990

Namibia as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalWindhoek

Area824,290 km2

Populationas each edition published it

1.45 million July 1990 · 2.85m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 61.2 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.6 children per woman 1990 · 2.85 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

71 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 27.1 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $1,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Land useshare of 824,290 km2

arable land 1%meadows and pastures 64%forest and woodland 22%other 13%NEGL% permanent crops; includes NEGL% irrigated

Total area

824,290km2

land area: 823,290 km2Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Coastline

1,489km

Territorial sea: 6 nm

Land boundaries

3,935km total

Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km

Disputes

short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite;
quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
possible future claim to South Africa's Walvis Bay

Climate

desert;
hot, dry;
rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain

mostly high plateau;
Namib Desert along coast;
Kalahari Desert in east

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of coal and iron ore

Environment

inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification

Note

Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia

People

14 fields

Population

1,452,951

(July 1990), growth rate 5.6% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

46Death

10Net migration

Ethnic divisions

black 86%white 6.5%mixed 7.5%about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe

Literacy

100%whites

16% nonwhites

Language

Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official); several indigenous languages

Labor force

500,000; 60% agriculture, 19% industry and commerce, 8% services, 7% government, 6% mining (1981 est.)

Organized labor

15 trade unions--largest is the mineworkers' union which has a sizable black membership

Government

Republic as of 21 March 1990

18 fields

National Assembly, 72 seats, elected 7-11 November 1989one dot, one seat

SWAPO 41DTA 21UDF 4ACN 3NNF 1FCN 1NPF 1

26 districts; Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek

Independence

21 March 1990

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

National holiday

Settlers' Day, 10 December

Executive branch

president, Cabinet, Constitutional Council

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State and Head of Government President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders

South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam Nujoma;
Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Dirk Mudge;
United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus Garoeb;
Action Christian National (ACN), Kosie Pretorius;
National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses Katjiuongua;
Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans Diergaardt;
Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii Rukoro

Suffrage

universal at age 18 National Assembly--last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1

Communists

no Communist party

Other political or pressure groups

Member of

FAO, IAEA, ILO, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation

Flag

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 which is contrasted by two narrow white edge borders

Economy

The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

15.1%

(1989)

Unemployment rate

30%

over · (1988)

External debt

$27million at independence

about · under a 1971 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, Namibia may not be liable for debt incurred during its colonial period

Budget

Revenues

$781 millionExpenditures

$932 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

Overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 35% of GDP, agriculture and fisheries 10-15%, and manufacturing about 5%. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium.

Alluvial diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten, and it has substantial resources of coal.

GNP

$1.54 billion, per capita $1,245; real growth rate 2.9% (1987)

Exports

$935 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--diamonds, uranium, zinc, copper, meat, processed fish, karakul skins;
partners--South Africa

Imports

$856 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured consumer goods, machinery and equipment;
partners--South Africa, FRG, UK, US

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

486,000 kW capacity; 1,280 million kWh produced, 930 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)

Agriculture

accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing);
mostly subsistence farming;
livestock raising major source of cash income;
crops--millet, sorghum, peanuts;
fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1987 catch reaching only 520,000 metric tons;
not self-sufficient in food

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million

Currency

South African rand (plural--rand); 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

South African rand (R) per US$1--2.5555 (January 1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 143 total, 123 usable

permanent-surface runways

21runways over 3,659 m

1runways 2,440-3,659 m

5runways 1,220-2,439 m

Networkskm

Highways

54,500Railroads

2,341

Highways: ; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km earth roads and tracks · Railroads: , single track

good urban, fair rural services;
radio relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers;
62,800 telephones;
stations--2 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

Defense Forces

4 fields

Military manpower

males 15-49

298,249fit for military service

176,660

Defense expenditures

4.9%of GNP

(1986)

Branches