Namibia

Republic of Namibia

republicIndependence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Namibia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 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

Area825,418 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between

Populationas each edition published it

1.65 million July 1995 est. · 1.45m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.44% 1995 est. · 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

62.1 years 1995 est. · 61.2 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.34 children per woman 1995 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

59.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 71 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,600 1994 est. · $1,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.8% 1994 est. · 2% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between | Angola and South Africa

13 fields

Land useshare of 825,418 sq km

arable land 1%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 64%forest and woodland 22%other 13%irrigated 40 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

825,418sq km

land area: 825,418 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Coastline

1,572km

contiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

3,824km

total · Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

International disputes

short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite;
quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili ( Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice;

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, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore

Environment

current issues:: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
natural hazards:: prolonged periods of drought
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

People

15 fields

Population

1,651,545

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 3.44% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

43.04Death

8.61Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years62.1

59.37 · 64.9

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy38%

45% · 31%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1960)

Ethnic divisions

black 86%white 6.6%mixed 7.4%share of total population): Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5% note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include (with approximate

Labor force

500,000

by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (female 384,885; male 394,216)
15-64 years:: 50% (female 414,283; male 405,938)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 26,783; male 25,440) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

59.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Namibian(s)
adjective:: Namibian

Religions

80%-90% Christian (50% Lutheran; at least 30% other Christian denominations)

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

Government

Republic

23 fields

Legislature, 26 seatsone dot, one seat

SWAPO 19DTA 6UDF 1

Legislature, 72 seatsone dot, one seat

SWAPO 53DTA 15UDF 2MAG 1DCN 1

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form:: Namibia

Digraph

Type

republic

Capital

Windhoek

Administrative divisions

13 districts; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990);
election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA);
results - Sam NUJOMA elected president by popular vote
cabinet:: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature

National Council

elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1

National Assembly

elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA;
DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO;
United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB;
Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Kephics CONRUDIE;
Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS;
Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP);
Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII;
Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses KATJIUONGA

Other political or pressure groups

Member of

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH
chancery:: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: [1] (202) 986-0540

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Marshall F. McCALLIE
embassy:: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
mailing address:: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone:: [264] (61) 221601

FAX

[264] (61) 229792

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 that 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.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$3,600

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

5.8%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -14% (1993); accounts for 30% of GDP, including mining

Inflation, consumer prices

11%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

35%in urban areas

(1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$941 millionExpenditures

$1.05 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)

Installed generating capacity, 406,000 kW

Electricity production

1.29 billionElectricity consumption per capita

658 (1991)

Overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP. 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
partners:: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan

Imports

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
partners:: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland

External debt

about $385 million (1994 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 10% of GDP;
livestock raising major source of cash income;
crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts;
fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Economic aid

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

Currency

1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.539 (January 1995), 3.5489 (1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 135 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

54,500Railroads

2,341

Highways: paved: 4,080 km · unpaved: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks) · Railroads: (single track) · narrow gauge: 2,341 km 1.067-m gauge

Railroads

total:: 2,341 km (single track)
narrow gauge:: 2,341 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways

total:: 54,500 km
paved:: 4,080 km
unpaved:: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)

Ports

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine

none

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

62,800 telephones; telephone density - 38/1,000 persons

local:: good urban services
intercity:: fair rural service;
microwave radio relay links major towns;
connections to other populated places are by open wire
international:: NA

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 3
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

National Defense Force (Army), Police