Namibia

Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

republicIndependence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Namibia as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 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 land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km
LocationSouthern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
2001

Every edition of Namibia

Populationas each edition published it
1.8 million July 2001 est. · 1.45m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.38% 2001 est. · 3.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
40.62 years 2001 est. · 61.2 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.83 children per woman 2001 est. · 6.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
71.66 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 71 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,300 2000 est. · $1,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4% 2000 est. · 2% in 1993

Introduction

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Background

South Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika 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 was soon named 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. Independence came in 1990.

Geography

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

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Coastline
1,572km
contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Irrigated land
60sq km
(1993 est.)

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

Area

total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 3,824 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km

Climate

  • 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, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Land use

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

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Environment - current issues

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

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Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth
34.71Death
20.9Net migration
0

Population

  • 1,797,677 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.74% (male 389,028; female 379,229) 15-64 years: 53.54% (male 480,075; female 482,375) 65 years and over: 3.72% (male 29,109; female 37,861) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.38% (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

71.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 40.62 years male: 42.48 years female: 38.71 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.83 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

18,000 (1999 est.)

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 are:
    • 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: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38% male: 45% female: 31% (1960 est.)

Government

Republic; President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)

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Legislature, 72 seatsone dot, one seat

SWAPO 55COD 7DTA 7UDF 2MAG 1

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990);
  • note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Sam Shafishuna 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 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president;
  • percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%

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 - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004);
  • National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1;
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other 1%;
  • seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1, note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders

  • Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA];
  • Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president];
  • Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS];
  • South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA];
  • United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU 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 Jeffrey A. BADER embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek mailing address: use embassy street address 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.

32 fields
Real growth rate
4%
(2000 est.)industrial production growth: NA
Unemployment rate
30%
to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
1.198 billion (1999)Electricity consumption
1.948 billion (1999)Electricity exports
56 million (1999)

Economy - overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% 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. Although per capita GDP is four times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of large-scale unemployment, the great inequality of income distribution, and the large amount of wealth going to foreigners.

The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa. GDP growth in 2000 was led by gains in the diamond and fish sectors. Agreement has been reached on the privatization of several more enterprises in coming years, which should stimulate long-run foreign investment. Growth in 2001 could be 5.5% provided the world economy remains stable.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)

Budget

revenues: $883 million expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 2% hydro: 98% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - imports

890 million kWh note: supplied by South Africa (1999)

Agriculture - products

  • millet, sorghum, peanuts;
  • livestock;
  • fish

Exports

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Exports - partners

UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.)

Imports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.)

Debt - external

$217 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$127 million (1998)

Currency

Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

10 fields
Fixed lines
100,848
(1997) · country code .na

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • good system;
  • about 6 telephones for each 100 persons domestic: good urban services;
  • fair rural service;
  • microwave radio relay links major towns;
  • connections to other populated places are by open wire;
  • 100% digital international: fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries;
  • connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa;
  • satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 34, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios

232,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

60,000 (1997)

Internet users

9,000 (1999)

Transportation

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Railways

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

Highways

total: 63,258 km paved: 5,250 km unpaved: 58,008 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Airports

131 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 110 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 69 under 914 m: 18 (2000 est.)

Military

National Defense Force (Army), Police

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Military branches

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 427,067 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 255,016 (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Namibia.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/namibia/2001.

How to cite ← 2000 edition 2002 edition →