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NAMIBIA
OFFICIAL NAME
Republic of Namibia
CAPITAL CITY
Windhoek, population 155,000
Geography
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 area:
825,418 sq km
land area:
825,418 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
total:
3,824 km
border countries:
Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:
1,572 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; 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
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
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, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
64%
forest and woodland:
22%
other:
13%
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
natural hazards:
prolonged periods of drought
international agreements:
party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
People
Population:
1,677,243 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
44% (male 370,090; female 362,185)
15-64 years:
52% (male 428,488; female 449,726)
65 years and over:
4% (male 28,599; female 38,155) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.93% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
37.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
7.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
all ages:
0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
47.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
64.48 years
male:
62.85 years
female:
66.16 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.1 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Namibian(s)
adjective:
Namibian
Ethnic divisions:
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%
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
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1960 est.)
total population:
38%
male:
45%
female:
31%
Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Republic of Namibia
conventional short form:
Namibia
Data code:
WA
Type of government:
republic
Capital:
Windhoek
Administrative divisions:
13 regions; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), 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 and head of government:
President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote NA
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from the members of National Assembly
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature
National Council:
elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1
National Assembly:
elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; SWAPO for Justice, Zacharia NJOMBA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Keiphas CONRADIE; Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS; Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP); Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII; Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA; National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH
chancery:
1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 986-0540
FAX:
[1] (202) 986-0443
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marshall F. McCALLIE
embassy:
Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
mailing address:
Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone:
[264] (61) 221601
FAX:
[264] (61) 229792
Economy
Economic 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
6.6% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita:
$3,600 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11% (1994)
Labor force:
500,000
by occupation:
agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
Unemployment rate:
35% in urban areas (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$941 million
expenditures:
$1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)
Industries:
meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:
10% (1994)
Electricity:
capacity:
406,000 kW
production:
1.29 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
658 kWh (1991)
Agriculture:
millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled
Exports:
$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
partners:
Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, UK
Imports:
$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
partners:
South Africa, Germany, US, Japan
External debt:
about $385 million (1994 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA, $NA
Currency:
1 Namibian Dollar (R) = 100 cents
Former exchange rates:
(SA Rand) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Transportation
Railways:
total:
2,382 km (1995)
narrow gauge:
2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track
Highways:
total:
54,186 km
paved:
4,056 km
unpaved:
50,130 km (1987 est.)
Ports:
Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
108
with paved runways over 3 047 m:
2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m:
14
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m:
3
with paved runways under 914 m:
10
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m:
17
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m:
58 (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones:
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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0
Radios:
195,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
3
Televisions:
27,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
Branches:
National Defense Force (Army), Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49:
377,687
males fit for military service:
224,682 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96)
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