Definition Field Listing Rank
Order
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. Independence came in 1990 following
multi-party elections and the establishment of a constitution.
President NUJOMA is currently serving his third term as president.
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|
Location: |
Southern
Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South
Africa |
Geographic coordinates: |
22 00 S, 17
00 E |
Map references: |
Africa
|
Area: |
total:
825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq
km |
Area - comparative: |
slightly
more than half the size of Alaska |
Land boundaries: |
total: 3,936 km border countries: Angola 1,376
km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km |
Coastline: |
1,572 km
|
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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: 0.99% permanent crops: 0% other:
99.01% (2001) |
Irrigated land: |
70 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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
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Population: |
1,954,033
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.) |
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.) |
Median age: |
total: 18.3 years male: 18 years
female: 18.6 years (2004 est.) |
Population growth rate: |
1.25% (2004
est.) |
Birth rate: |
33.51
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
Death rate: |
21.02
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
Net migration rate: |
0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (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.) |
Infant mortality rate: |
total:
69.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 72.65 deaths/1,000
live births female: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.) |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 40.53 years male: 42.36 years
female: 38.64 years (2004 est.) |
Total fertility rate: |
4.65 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
21.3% (2003
est.) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
210,000 (2001
est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
16,000 (2003
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: 84% male: 84.4%
female: 83.7% (2003 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
Country name: |
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia former:
German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa |
Government type: |
republic
|
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 Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)
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 30 November-1 December 1999 (next
to be held NA November 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
NA November 2004); National Assembly - last held 30 November-1
December 1999 (next to be held NA November 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 Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF
[Justus GAROEB] |
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
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, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, 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 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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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 - real growth rate: |
3.3% (2003
est.) |
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $7,200 (2003 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 11.5% industry: 29.8%
services: 58.7% (2003 est.) |
Investment (gross fixed): |
19.8% of GDP
(2003) |
Population below poverty line: |
50% (2002
est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
70 (2003)
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
7.3% (2003)
|
Labor force: |
760,000
(2003) |
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture
47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.) |
Unemployment rate: |
35% (1998)
|
Budget: |
revenues: $1.434 billion expenditures: $1.62
billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003) |
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) |
Industrial production growth rate: |
NA |
Electricity - production: |
26.95 million
kWh (2001) |
Electricity - consumption: |
603.1 million
kWh (2001) |
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2001)
|
Electricity - imports: |
578 million
kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001) |
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) |
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: |
$325.2
million (2003) |
Debt - external: |
$1.04 billion
(2003 est.) |
Economic aid - recipient: |
ODA $160
million (2000 est.) |
Currency: |
Namibian
dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR) |
Currency code: |
NAD; 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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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 |
Airports: |
136 (2003
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 (2003 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 115 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to
2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914
m: 20 (2003 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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 |
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