Namibia

Republic of Namibia

republicIndependence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Namibia as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 94 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, between

Populationas each edition published it

1.73 million July 1997 est. · 1.45m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.94% 1997 est. · 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

64.91 years 1997 est. · 61.2 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.05 children per woman 1997 est. · 6.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

45.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 71 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,700 1996 est. · $1,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.5% 1996 est. · 2% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 825,418 sq km

arable land 1%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 46%forests and woodland 22%other 31% (1993 est.)irrigated 60 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

825,418sq km

land: 825,418 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly more than half the size of Alaska

Coastline

1,572km

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

Highest point

2,606m

Konigsteinlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

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

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified :: Biodiversity, Desertification

People

15 fields

Population

1,727,183

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.94% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

37.08Death

7.72Net migration

Ethnic groups

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%

Literacy

38%

definition : age 15 and over can read and writemale: 45%female: 31% (1960 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (male 379,158; female 371,008)
15-64 years:: 53% (male 444,523; female 465,510)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 28,743; female 38,241) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth :: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population :: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

45.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 64.91 years
male :: 63.23 years
female:: 66.63 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.05 children born/woman (1997 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; President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)

21 fields

National Council, 72 seats, elected 30 November-3 December 1992one dot, one seat

SWAPO 53DTA 15UDF 2MAG 1DCN 1

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic

National capital

Windhoek

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
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; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results :: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - 76%

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: National Council - last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998);
National Assembly - last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results:: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1;
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%;
seats by party - SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA];
National Democratic Party for Justice or NDPFJ [Nbhwete NDJOBA];
Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Mishake MUYONGO, president];
United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB];
Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS];
Democratic Coalition of Namibia or DCN [Moses K. KATJIUONGUA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission :: Ambassador Veiccoh NGHIWETE
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 George F. WARD, Jr. (24 July 1996)
embassy:: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
mailing address:: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone:: [264] (61) 221601

FAX

[264] (61) 229792

Flag description

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.

22 fields

Real growth rate

1.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 10% (1994)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

21.8%

(1993)

Labor force

500,000

by occupation: agriculture 49%, industry and commerce 25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1995 est.)

agriculture 15%industry 20%services 65% (1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.1 billionExpenditures

$1.2 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $193 million (FY96/97 est.)

Economy - 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. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

406,000 kW (1993)

Electricity - production

994 million kWh (1993) note: imports electricity from South Africa

Electricity - consumption per capita

925 kWh (1993)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:: $1.45 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
partners :: UK, South Africa, Spain, Japan (1994)

Imports

total value:: $1.55 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
partners:: South Africa 85%, Germany, US, Japan (1994 est.)

Debt - external

about $315 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1 - 4.64152 (January 1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994), 3.26774 (1993), 2.85201 (1992)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

6 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

note: a fully automated digital network is to be operational by 1997

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0

Radios

195,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

27,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m : 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3

Networkskm

Highways

40,450Railways

2,382

Highways: paved: 5,299 km · unpaved: 35,151 km (1995 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)

Railways

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

Highways

total:: 40,450 km
paved:: 5,299 km
unpaved:: 35,151 km (1995 est.)

Military

National Defense Force (Army), Police

5 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1%

(FY95/96)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

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 NAURU

Central Intelligence Agency. “Namibia.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/namibia/1997.

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