SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(8 fields)
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 (2007)
Internet country code
.na
Internet users
total: 325,400 | percent of population: 14.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Telephone system
general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections | domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of more than 100 telephones per 100 persons | international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2010)
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 180,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128
Telephones - mobile cellular
total: 2.7 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Television broadcast stations
2 (2007)
◆ ECONOMY(39 fields)
Agriculture - products
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
Budget
revenues: $5.021 billion | expenditures: $5.659 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-4.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Central bank discount rate
6% (31 December 2014) | 5.5% (31 December 2013) | country comparison to the world: 65
Commercial bank prime lending rate
9% (31 December 2014 est.) | 8.29% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99
Current account balance
-$883 million (2014 est.) | -$782.5 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
Debt - external
$6.021 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $4.845 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Distribution of family income - Gini index
59.7 (2010) | 70.7 (2003) | country comparison to the world: 6
Economy - overview
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 11.5% 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 becoming increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. The mining and quarrying sectors employ less than 2% of the population. 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 one of the world's most unequal income distributions. 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 complicates budget planning. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations, and drought. The rising cost of mining diamonds, increasingly from the sea, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities recognize these issues and have emphasized the need to increase higher value raw materials, manufacturing, and services, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.
Exchange rates
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - | 9.6502 (2014 est.) | 8.2099 (2013 est.) | 8.2 (2012 est.) | 7.2597 (2011 est.) | 7.3212 (2010 est.)
Exports
$4.963 billion (2014 est.) | $4.62 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Exports - commodities
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.35 billion (2014 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$23.82 billion (2014 est.) | $22.79 billion (2013 est.) | $21.3 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 137
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 64.7% | government consumption: 29% | investment in fixed capital: 27.5% | investment in inventories: -2% | exports of goods and services: 43.5% | imports of goods and services: -62.7% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 6.2% | industry: 30% | services: 63.7% (2014 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$10,800 (2014 est.) | $10,200 (2013 est.) | $9,700 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 128
GDP - real growth rate
5.3% (2014 est.) | 5.1% (2013 est.) | 5.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66
Gross national saving
23.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | 20.4% of GDP (2013 est.) | 21% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.4% | highest 10%: 42% (2010)
Imports
$7.657 billion (2014 est.) | $6.624 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate
5.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44
Industries
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.3% (2014 est.) | 5.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Labor force
991,000 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 16.3% | industry: 22.4% | services: 61.3% | 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 (2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$1.305 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $1.152 billion (31 December 2011) | $1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104
Population below poverty line
28.7% (2010 est.)
Public debt
22.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 23.6% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.651 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.503 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Stock of broad money
$7.496 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $6.574 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$NA
Stock of domestic credit
$6.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $5.993 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Stock of narrow money
$3.867 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111
Taxes and other revenues
38.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32
Unemployment rate
28.1% (2014 est.) | 29.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
◆ ENERGY(23 fields)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
3.716 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - consumption
4.238 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - exports
89 million kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - from fossil fuels
31.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
68.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - from other renewable sources
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - imports
2.907 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - installed generating capacity
1.087 million kW (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - production
1.331 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - proved reserves
62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60
Refined petroleum products - consumption
26,810 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Refined petroleum products - imports
20,810 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
◆ GEOGRAPHY(20 fields)
Area
total: 824,292 sq km | land: 823,290 sq km | water: 1,002 sq km | country comparison to the world: 34
Area - comparative
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Climate
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Coastline
1,572 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Environment - current issues
limited natural freshwater 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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (25%/5%/70%) | per capita: 146 cu m/yr (2002)
Geographic coordinates
22 00 S, 17 00 E
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
Irrigated land
75.73 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries
total: 4,220 km | border countries (4): Angola 1,427 km, Botswana 1,544 km, South Africa 1,005 km, Zambia 244 km
Land use
agricultural land: 47.2% | arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 46.2% | forest: 8.8% | other: 44% (2011 est.)
Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
prolonged periods of drought
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
Terrain
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Total renewable water resources
17.72 cu km (2011)
◆ GOVERNMENT(21 fields)
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
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
Constitution
drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990; amended 1998, 2010 (2010)
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 Suedwest Afrika), South-West Africa
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON (since 6 October 2014) | embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek | mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek | telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500 | FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA (since 3 September 2010) | chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 | FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Executive branch
chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); 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 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held on 28 November 2014) | election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0%
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 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 yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources
Government type
republic
Independence
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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 can be extended by the president until age 70 | subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
Legal system
mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) and the National Council, which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (26 seats; members indirectly elected 2 each by the 13 regional councils to serve 5-year terms) | elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 26-27 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019) | election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 80.0%, DTA 4.8%, RDP 3.5%, APP 2.3%, UDF 2.1%, NUDO 2.0%, CPN 1.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77, DTA 5, RDP 3, APP 2, UDF 2, NUDO 2, CPN 2, SWANU 1, UPM 1, RP 1
National anthem
name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave" | lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB | note: adopted 1991
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
National symbol(s)
oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow
Political parties and leaders
All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI] | Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) [Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK] | Congress of Democrats or CoD [Ben ULENGA] | Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI] | National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO] | Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA] | Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE] | South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA] | South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA] | United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus //GAROEB] | United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
Political pressure groups and leaders
National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS | other: various labor unions
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
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 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 has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in November 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the November 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.
◆ MILITARY(6 fields)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 568,231 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 351,431 | females age 16-49: 311,513 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 26,413 | female: 26,038 (2010 est.)
Military branches
Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)
Military expenditures
4.2% of GDP (2015) | 3.11% of GDP (2012) | 3.38% of GDP (2011) | 3.11% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 20
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(34 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: 30.95% (male 345,767/female 339,026) | 15-24 years: 23.11% (male 258,586/female 252,773) | 25-54 years: 36.57% (male 422,026/female 386,948) | 55-64 years: 4.88% (male 48,406/female 59,545) | 65 years and over: 4.49% (male 42,635/female 56,595) (2015 est.)
Birth rate
19.8 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
13.2% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 37
Contraceptive prevalence rate
55.1% (2006/07)
Death rate
13.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 67.3% | youth dependency ratio: 61.4% | elderly dependency ratio: 5.9% | potential support ratio: 17% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source
urban: 98.2% of population | rural: 84.6% of population | total: 91% of population | urban: 1.8% of population | rural: 15.4% of population | total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditures
8.5% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 9
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 include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
15.97% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - deaths
5,100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
245,400 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
Health expenditures
7.7% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 54
Hospital bed density
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Infant mortality rate
total: 45.62 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 48.48 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 42.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44
Languages
Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7% | note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 51.62 years | male: 52.05 years | female: 51.18 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 81.9% | male: 79.2% | female: 84.5% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne disease: malaria | water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
Major urban areas - population
WINDHOEK (capital) 368,000 (2015)
Median age
total: 23.1 years | male: 23.1 years | female: 23.1 years (2015 est.)
Nationality
noun: Namibian(s) | adjective: Namibian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
16.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 133
Physicians density
0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Population
2,212,307 | 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Population growth rate
0.59% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Religions
Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Sanitation facility access
urban: 54.5% of population | rural: 16.8% of population | total: 34.4% of population | urban: 45.5% of population | rural: 83.2% of population | total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years | male: 11 years | female: 11 years (2006)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female | total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.17 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 34.3% | male: 29.4% | female: 40.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19
Urbanization
urban population: 46.7% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 4.16% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(2 fields)
Disputes - 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
Trafficking in persons
current situation: Namibia is predominantly a country of origin and destination for children and, to a lesser extent, women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; victims, lured by promises of legitimate jobs, are forced to work in hazardous condition in urban centers and on commercial farms; traffickers exploit Namibian children, as well as children from Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, for forced labor in agriculture, cattle herding, domestic service, fishing, and street vending; children are also forced into prostitution, often catering to tourists from southern Africa and Europe; San girls are particularly vulnerable | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Namibia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; draft anti-trafficking legislation awaits review by the attorney general and the Child Care and Protection Bill, which would criminalize child trafficking, is still pending parliamentary approval; the government developed a national protection referral network for crime victims in 2013, but it has not been fully operationalized; authorities did not make systematic efforts to identify trafficking victims or to screen vulnerable groups for potential victims (2014)
◆ TRANSPORTATION(7 fields)
Airports
112 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 52
Airports - with paved runways
total: 19 | over 3,047 m: 4 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 93 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 | 914 to 1,523 m: 52 | 16 (2013)
Merchant marine
total: 1 | by type: cargo 1 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 153
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Railways
total: 2,628 km | narrow gauge: 2,628 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 65
Roadways
total: 44,138 km | paved: 6,387 km | unpaved: 37,751 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 81