Namibia
Republic of Namibia
presidential republicIndependence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Namibia as the 2021 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 176 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Various ethnic groups occupied south western Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 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 became 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 gained independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. Namibia gained independence in 1990.
Geography
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
20 fieldsLand useshare of 824,292 sq km
Natural resources
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish, note, suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Major rivers (by length in km)
- Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km;
- Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km;
- Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Orange (941,351 sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Population distribution
population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map
Geography - note
- the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world;
- Namibia is the 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;
- Namib-Naukluft National Park (49,768 sq km), is the largest game park in Africa and one of the largest in the world
People and Society
37 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)
Note
Per 1,000 population(2021 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana .5%
Languages
Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.) note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
Demographic profile
Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016.
Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.
The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south.
After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.
Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods.
Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.
Population distribution
population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 0.93 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.8 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.74 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.96 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
Environment
16 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources;
- desertification;
- land degradation;
- loss of biodiversity and biotic resources;
- wildlife poaching
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 22.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 4.23 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 10.4 megatons (2020 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 53% of total population (2021)
- rate of urbanization:
- 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
Food insecurity
severe localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - an above-average harvest in 2021 is expected to lead to an improvement in food security compared to the previous year, however, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily income and job losses, are expected to continue to constrain households’ access to food (2021)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 256,729 tons (1993 est.)
- municipal solid waste recycled annually:
- 11,553 tons (2005 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 4.5% (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
- Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km;
- Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km;
- Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Orange (941,351 sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 73 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- industrial:
- 14 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- agricultural:
- 201 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Council, 36 seatsone dot, one seat
Composition: men 36, women 6, percent of women 16.6%
National Assembly, 96 seatsone dot, one seat
Composition: NA
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Namibia
- conventional short form:
- Namibia
- local long form:
- Republic of Namibia
- local short form:
- Namibia
- former:
- German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa
- etymology:
- named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name "namib" means "vast place" in the Nama/Damara language
Capital
- name:
- Windhoek
- geographic coordinates:
- 22 34 S, 17 05 E
- time difference:
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
- etymology:
- may derive from the Afrikaans word "wind-hoek" meaning "windy corner"
Administrative divisions
- 14 regions;
- Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi;
- note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
Constitution
- history:
- adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990
- amendments:
- initiated by the Cabinet;
- passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic;
- if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum;
- passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast;
- amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed;
- amended 1998, 2010, 2014
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 5 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015);
- Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015);
- Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018);
- Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
- elections/appointments:
- president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 28 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024)
- election results:
- Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round;
- percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (Independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 2.7%, Apius AUCHAB (UDF) 2.7%, Esther MUINJANGUE (NUDO) 1.5%, other 2%
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral Parliament consists of:; ; National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed list, proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president)
- National Council (42 seats);
- members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms);
- note - the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly
- elections:
- National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 25 November 2020 (next to be held on 25 November 2025); National Assembly - last held on 27 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024)
- election results:
- ;
- National Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - SWAPO 28, LPM 6,IPC 2, PDM 2, UDF 2, NUDO 1, independent 1;
- composition - men 36, women 6, percent of women 16.6%
- National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 65.5%, PDM 16.6%, LPM 4.7%, NUDO 1.9%, APP 1.8%, UDF 1.8%, RP 1.8%, NEFF 1.7%, RDP 1.1%, CDV .7%, SWANU .6%, other 1.8%;
- seats by party - SWAPO 63, PDM 16, LPM 4, NUDO 2, APP 2, UDF 2, RP 2, NEFF 2, RDP 1, CDV 1, SWANU 1;
- composition - NA
Judicial branch
- highest courts:
- Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission;
- judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70
- subordinate courts:
- High Court;
- Electoral Court, Labor Court;
- regional and district magistrates' courts;
- community courts
Political parties and leaders
- All People's Party or APP [Vacant]
- Christian Democratic Voice or CDV [Gothard KANDUME]
- Landless People's Movement or LPM [Bernadus SWARTBOOI]
- National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Estes MUINJANGUE]
- Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF [Epafras MUKWIILONGO]
- Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly DTA) [McHenry VENAANI]
- Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mike KAVEKOTORA]
- Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]
- South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Tangeni IIYAMBO]
- South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB]
- United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB]
- United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Margaret Natalie MENSAH-WILLIAMS (since 18 January 2021)
- chancery:
- 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 986-0540
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 986-0443
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://namibiaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jessica LONG (since 2 July 2021)
- embassy:
- 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
- mailing address:
- 2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540
- telephone:
- [264] (061) 295-8500
- FAX:
- [264] (061) 295-8603
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://na.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
- a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner;
- the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst;
- the lower fly-side triangle is green;
- red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all;
- white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony;
- blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain;
- the golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence;
- green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources
Economy
Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export.
34 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2016 est.)
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds.
Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, especially from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.
Namibia is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought.
Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years, food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment.
GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2018.
A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.
Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.
Agricultural products
roots/tubers nes, milk, maize, onions, beef, grapes, fruit, pulses nes, vegetables, millet
Industries
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Labor force - by occupation
- agriculture:
- 31%
- industry:
- 14%
- services:
- 54% (2013 est.)
note: about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture
Exports
$3.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) · $4.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $4.95 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports
$4.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) · $5.77 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $6.33 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.432 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 13.67 (2017 est.) · 14.7096 (2016 est.) · 14.7096 (2015 est.) · 12.7589 (2014 est.) · 10.8526 (2013 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2019)
Installed generating capacity, 535,500 kW(2016 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- good competition in mobile market and investment in LTE government program to provide 95% of population with broadband by 2024;
- 5G delayed due to public concerns of privacy and security;
- high prices for international bandwidth due to lack of submarine cables, yet improved by diversification of satellite access (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line subscribership is 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 113 per 100 persons (2019)
- international:
- country code - 264;
- landing points for the ACE and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe;
- satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production;
many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes;
the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
- 1 private and 1 state-run TV station;
- satellite and cable TV service available;
- state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages;
- about a dozen private radio stations;
- transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 2 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 602,893 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 26.29 million mt-km (2018)
Military and Security
6 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2020)
Military and security forces
- Namibian Defense Force (NDF):
- Army, Navy, Air Force
- Ministry of Safety and Security:
- Namibian Police Force (includes a paramilitary Special Field Force responsible for protecting borders and government installations) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the inventory of the Namibian Defense Force consists mostly of Soviet-era equipment; China is the leading supplier of weapons to Namibia since 2010 (2020)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021)
Military - note
- the Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF);
- PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989;
- from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border;
- the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River;
- Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 5,641 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Namibia.” The World Factbook 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/namibia/2021.