Namibia

Republic of Namibia

republicIndependence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Namibia as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 120 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 Angola and South Africa
2004

Every edition of Namibia

Populationas each edition published it
1.95 million July 2004 est. · 1.45m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.25% 2004 est. · 3.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.3 years 2004 est. · 18.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
40.53 years 2004 est. · 61.2 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.65 children per woman 2004 est. · 6.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
69.58 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 71 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$7,200 2003 est. · $1,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.3% 2003 est. · 2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa 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.

Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 825,418 sq km

arable land 0.99%permanent crops 0%other 99.01% (2001)irrigated 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
825,418sq km
land: 825,418 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly more than half the size of Alaska
Coastline
1,572km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
2,606m
Konigsteinlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
3,936km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 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

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, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

Environment - current issues

  • very limited natural fresh water resources;
  • desertification;
  • wildlife poaching;
  • land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

  • first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution;
  • some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

People

19 fields
Population
1,954,033
growth rate: 1.25% (2004 est.)
Note
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 2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth
33.51Death
21.02Net migration
0

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)40.53
42.36 · 38.64Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)69.58
72.65 · 66.43
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)84%
84.4% · 83.7%Median age years (2004 est.)18.3
18 · 18.6
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

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%

Age structure

0-14 years:
42.4% (male 419,700; female 409,156)
15-64 years:
54% (male 527,553; female 528,386)
65 years and over:
3.5% (male 30,427; female 38,811) (2004 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:
0.78 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

16,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Namibian(s)
adjective:
Namibian

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

Government

Republic; President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since November 2004); Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002)

18 fields

National Council, 72 seatsone dot, one seat

SWAPO 55COD 5DTA 4UDF 3MAG 1other 4

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 Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since November 2004)
head of government:
Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002)
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 15 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results:
Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - NA%

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 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009);
  • National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results:
  • National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - NA;
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, UDF 3, MAG 1, other 4

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 Shafishuna NUJOMA];
  • United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 Kevin J. McGUIRE
embassy:
Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, 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.

42 fields
Real growth rate
3.3%
(2003 est.)industrial production growth: NA

GDP - composition by sector(2003 est.)

agriculture 11.5%industry 29.8%services 58.7% (2003 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$1.434 billionExpenditures
$1.62 billion (2003)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

Electricity production
26.95 million (2001)Electricity consumption
603.1 million (2001)Electricity imports
578 million (2001)

Economy - overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten.

The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides the great inequality of income distribution;

nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fish production led growth in 2003.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $13.85 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

760,000 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Public debt

35.6% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves

31.15 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance

$123 million (2003)

Exports

$1.09 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 79%, US 4% (2001)

Imports

$1.371 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 50%, EU 31% (2001)

Debt - external

$1.04 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA $160 million (2000 est.)

Currency

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

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
223,700
(2003)
Internet users
3,164
(2003)
Fixed lines
127,400
(2003) · 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:
  • country code - 264;
  • 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 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

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

Internet users

65,000 (2003)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
over 3,047 m
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
13
1,524 to 2,437 m
22
4
914 to 1,523 m
71
under 914 m
20
Paved 21Unpaved 115

Networkskm

Highways
66,467Railways
2,382
Highways: paved: 9,172 km · unpaved: 57,285 km (2000) · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)

Railways

total:
2,382 km
narrow gauge:
2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)

Highways

total:
66,467 km
paved:
9,172 km
unpaved:
57,285 km (2000)

Ports and harbors

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine

none (2004 est.)

Airports

136 (2003 est.)

Military

Namibian Defense Force: Army (including Naval Wing, Air Wing), Police

6 fields

Military branches

Namibian Defense Force: Army (including Naval Wing, Air Wing), Police

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 468,934 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 279,755 (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

  • commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River;
  • Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls;
  • managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River;
  • Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundary convergence is not clearly defined or delimited;
  • Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia

Central Intelligence Agency. “Namibia.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/namibia/2004.

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