Namibia

Branches

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49: 377,687 males fit for military service: 224,682 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0

Radios

195,000 (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

Telephones

89,722 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

3

Televisions

27,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Agriculture

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Budget

revenues: $941 million expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)

Currency

1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

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.

Electricity

capacity: 406,000 kW production: 1.29 billion kWh consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates

South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991)

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

External debt

about $385 million (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP per capita

$3,600 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6.6% (1994 est.)

Imports

$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

10% (1994)

Industries

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

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.)

Area

total area: 825,418 sq km land area: 825,418 sq km comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Climate

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline

1,572 km

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

Geographic coordinates

22 00 S, 17 00 E

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 64% forest and woodland: 22% other: 13%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain

mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Administrative divisions

13 regions; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Capital

Windhoek

Constitution

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Data code

WA

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540

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

FAX

[1] (202) 986-0443

FAX

[264] (61) 229792

Flag

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

Independence

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature

Name of country

conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia

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

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 holiday

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Other political or pressure groups

NA

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

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

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.)

Birth rate

37.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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%

Infant mortality rate

47.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.48 years male: 62.85 years female: 66.16 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

1,677,243 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (1996 est.)

Religions

Christian 80% to 90%, Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%, native religions 10% to 20%

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.1 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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.)

Highways

total: 54,186 km paved: 4,056 km unpaved: 50,130 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways

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