Namibia

Republic of Namibia

republicIndependence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Namibia as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 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
Position22 00 S, 17 00 E
Area825,418 sq km
LocationSouthern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
1996

Every edition of Namibia

Populationas each edition published it
1.68 million July 1996 est. · 1.45m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.93% 1996 est. · 3.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
64.48 years 1996 est. · 61.2 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.1 children per woman 1996 est. · 6.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
47.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 71 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$3,600 1994 est. · $1,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6.6% 1994 est. · 2% in 1993

Geography

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

14 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
border countries: 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

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

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 December 1995, and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ

Climate

  • desert;
  • hot, dry;
  • rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain

  • mostly high plateau;
  • Namib Desert along coast;
  • Kalahari Desert in east
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Konigstein 2,606 m

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 - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes

People

15 fields
Population
1,677,243
(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.93% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth
37.29Death
7.98Net migration
0

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years64.48
62.85 · 66.16
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy38%
45% · 31%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1960 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:
44% (male 370,090; female 362,185)
15-64 years:
52% (male 428,488; female 449,726)
65 years and over:
4% (male 28,599; female 38,155) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
all ages:
0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

47.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.1 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Namibian(s)
adjective:
Namibian

Religions

Christian 80% to 90%, Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%, native religions 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: 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

Name of country

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

Capital

Windhoek

Administrative divisions

13 regions; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:
  • President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
  • election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999);
  • results - Sam NUJOMA elected president;
  • percent of vote NA
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from the members of 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 December 1999);
  • 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;
  • SWAPO for Justice, Zacharia NJOMBA;
  • DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO;
  • United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB;
  • Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Keiphas CONRADIE;
  • Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS;
  • Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP);
  • Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII;
  • Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA;
  • National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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 | extraction and processing of minerals for export.

20 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,600
(1994 est.)
Real growth rate
6.6%
(1994 est.)industrial production growth: 10% (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)

Economic overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of 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. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make 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.

GDP

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

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%

Labor force

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

Industries

meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Agriculture

  • millet, sorghum, peanuts;
  • livestock;
  • fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Exports

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

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

Imports

$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

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

External debt

about $385 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 108 in all

2
over 3 047 m
2
2 438 to 3 047 m
2
14
1 524 to 2 437 m
17
3
914 to 1 523 m
58
10
under 914 m
PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways
54,186Railways
2,382 (1995)
Highways: paved: 4,056 km · unpaved: 50,130 km (1987 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track

Railways

total:
2,382 km (1995)
narrow gauge:
2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track

Highways

total:
54,186 km
paved:
4,056 km
unpaved:
50,130 km (1987 est.)

Ports

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Communications

National Defense Force (Army), Police

9 fields
Fixed lines
89,722
(1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:
  • good urban services;
  • 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

195,000 (1992 est.)

Televisions

27,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Branches

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Manpower availability

males age 15-49:
377,687
males fit for military service:
224,682 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Namibia.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/namibia/1996.

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