Namibia

Namibia

Introduction

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. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.

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: 824,292 sq km
country comparison to the world: 34 land:823,290 sq km
water:1,002 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, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note:suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Land use

arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops:0.01%
other:99% (2005)

Irrigated land

80 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

45.5 cu km (1991)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.3cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)
per capita:148cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

prolonged periods of drought

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

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

People and Society

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 include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Languages

English (official) 7%, Afrikaans (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), German 32%, indigenous languages (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama) 1%

Religions

Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

Population

2,147,585 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.2% (male 371,078/female 364,232)
15-64 years:61.7% (male 671,853/female 652,414)
65 years and over:4.1% (male 38,851/female 49,157) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 21.7 years
male:21.7 years
female:21.8 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.873% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Birth rate

21.48 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Death rate

12.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Net migration rate

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Urbanization

urban population: 38% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

WINDHOEK (capital) 342,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.8 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

180 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61

Infant mortality rate

total: 45.59 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 54 male:48.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female:42.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.19 years
country comparison to the world: 208 male:52.48 years
female:51.89 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.49 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Health expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 109

Physicians density

0.374 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 132

Hospital bed density

2.67 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 84

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 88% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 12% of population
total: 8% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 60% of population
rural: 17% of population
total: 33% of population
unimproved:
urban: 40% of population
rural: 83% of population
total: 67% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

13.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

180,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

HIV/AIDS – deaths

6,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

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 (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.5% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43

Education expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 23

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:85%
male:86.8%
female:83.5% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 41.7%
country comparison to the world: 7 male:36.7%
female:47.1% (2004)

Government

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 (Sued-West Afrika), South-West Africa

Government type

republic

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

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

mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based onRoman-Dutch law and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)
head of government:Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president

percent of vote – Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0%, Katuutire KAURA 3.0%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9%, Justus GAROEB 2.4%, Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3%, Hendrick MUDGE 1.2%, other 1.8%

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council, primarily an advisory body (26 seats

two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms), and the National Assembly (72 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve five-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 2016)

National Assembly – last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)
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 75.3%, RDP 11.3%, DTA 3.1%, NUDO 3.0%, UDF 2.4%, APP 1.4%, RP 0.8%, COD 0.7%, SWANU 0.6%, other 1.3%

seats by party – SWAPO 54, RDP 8, DTA 2, NUDO 2, UDF 2, APP 1, COD 1, RP 1, SWANU 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders

All People’s Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]

Congress of Democrats or COD [Benjamin ULENGA]

Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]

Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]

National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC

National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]

Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]

Republican Party or RP [Hendrick 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Society for Human Rights or NSHR (NAMRIGHTS as of 2010)

various labor unions

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, 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 Martin ANDJABA
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 Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy:14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address:Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone:[264] (61) 295-8500
FAX:[264] (61) 295-8603

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

National anthem

name: “Namibia, Land of the Brave”
lyrics/music:Axali DOESEB
note:adopted 1991

Economy

Economy – overview

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the world’s fourth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a small producer of gold and other minerals. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about 35-40% 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 one of the world’s most unequal income distributions, as shown by Namibia’s 70.7 GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010, Namibia drew 40% of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia’s budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU allotments to Namibia increased in 2009, but will drop for 2010 and 2011 because South Africa went into recession during the global economic crisis, reducing overall SACU income. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, and uranium spurred growth in 2003-08, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches, a dramatic decline in demand for diamonds, higher costs of producing metals, and the global recession. A rebound in diamond and uranium prices in 2010 provided a significant boost to Namibia’s mining sector. Copper mines, which closed in 2008, are slated to reopen in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138 $13.98 billion (2009 est.)
$14.1 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.87 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 -0.8% (2009 est.)
4.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$6,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 $6,600 (2009 est.)
$6,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 7.3%
industry:34.3%
services:58.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force

789,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 16.3%
industry:22.4%
services:61.3%
note:statistics are for the formal sector only

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.)

Unemployment rate

51.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192 36.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line

55.8%
note:the UNDP’s 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%:53% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

70.7 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 1

Investment (gross fixed)

22.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Budget

revenues: $3.103 billion
expenditures:$3.874 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Public debt

20.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109 14.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141 8.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

12% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48 7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.72% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 11.12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.653 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102 $2.839 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$8.078 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109 $6.595 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$6.553 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105 $4.726 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.176 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 105 $846.3 million (31 December 2009)
$618.7 million (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes

livestock

fish

Industries

meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products

mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity – production

2.197 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity – consumption

3.928 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity – exports

47 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

2.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Oil – consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Oil – imports

19,890 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas – proved reserves

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Current account balance

$11.35 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62 -$160.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$4.115 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117 $3.535 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium

cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Imports

$4.904 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116 $4.519 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

foodstuffs

petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.495 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127 $1.846 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$3.101 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 $2.199 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
7.57 (2010)
8.42 (2009)
7.75 (2008)
7.18 (2007)
6.7649 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

129 (2010)
country comparison to the world:45

Airports – with paved runways

total: 21
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:13
914 to 1,523 m:3 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 108
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:25
914 to 1,523 m:71
under 914 m:11 (2010)

Railways

total: 2,626 km
country comparison to the world: 62 narrow gauge:2,626 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 64,189 km
country comparison to the world: 71 paved:5,477 km
unpaved:58,712 km (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 1
country comparison to the world: 158 by type:cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Military

Military branches

Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

no conscription (2010)

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 expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 31

Transnational Issues

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

managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in 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): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)