Airports [time series]

143 total, 123 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

2 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km earth roads and tracks

Ports [time series]

Luderitz; primary maritime outlet is Walvis Bay (South Africa)

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

good urban, fair rural services; radio relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones; stations--2 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

NA

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

4.9% of GNP (1986)

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 298,249; 176,660 fit for military service

Note [time series]

the South-West Africa Territorial Force, established in 1980, was demobilized in June 1989; a new national defense force will probably be formed by the new government

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing); mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops--millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1987 catch reaching only 520,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in food

Aid [time series]

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million

Budget [time series]

revenues $781 million; expenditures $932 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

South African rand (plural--rand); 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Electricity [time series]

486,000 kW capacity; 1,280 million kWh produced, 930 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

South African rand (R) per US$1--2.5555 (January 1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$935 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--diamonds, uranium, zinc, copper, meat, processed fish, karakul skins; partners--South Africa

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

about $27 million at independence; under a 1971 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, Namibia may not be liable for debt incurred during its colonial period

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April-31 March

GNP [time series]

$1.54 billion, per capita $1,245; real growth rate 2.9% (1987)

Imports [time series]

$856 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured consumer goods, machinery and equipment; partners--South Africa, FRG, UK, US

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15.1% (1989)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 35% of GDP, agriculture and fisheries 10-15%, and manufacturing about 5%. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten, and it has substantial resources of coal.

Unemployment rate [time series]

over 30% (1988)

Climate [time series]

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline [time series]

1,489 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; possible future claim to South Africa's Walvis Bay

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification

Exclusive fishing zone [time series]

12 nm;

Land boundaries [time series]

3,935 km total; Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km

Land use [time series]

1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 64% meadows and pastures; 22% forest and woodland; 13% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Natural resources [time series]

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of coal and iron ore

Note [time series]

Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia

Terrain [time series]

mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

6 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

824,290 km2; land area: 823,290 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

26 districts; Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek

Capital [time series]

Windhoek

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

no Communist party

Constitution [time series]

ratified 9 February 1990

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

NA

Executive branch [time series]

president, Cabinet, Constitutional Council

Flag [time series]

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 which is contrasted by two narrow white edge borders

Independence [time series]

21 March 1990

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court Chief of State and Head of Government President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Namibia

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

FAO, IAEA, ILO, UNESCO, WHO

National holiday [time series]

Settlers' Day, 10 December

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

NA

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam Nujoma; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Dirk Mudge; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus Garoeb; Action Christian National (ACN), Kosie Pretorius; National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses Katjiuongua; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans Diergaardt; Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii Rukoro

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18 National Assembly--last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic as of 21 March 1990

Birth rate [time series]

46 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

10 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

86% black, 6.5% white, 7.5% mixed; about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe

Infant mortality rate [time series]

71 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

500,000; 60% agriculture, 19% industry and commerce, 8% services, 7% government, 6% mining (1981 est.)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official); several indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

57 years male, 63 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

100% whites, 16% nonwhites

Nationality [time series]

noun--Namibian(s); adjective--Namibian

Net migration rate [time series]

20 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

15 trade unions--largest is the mineworkers' union which has a sizable black membership

Population [time series]

1,452,951 (July 1990), growth rate 5.6% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

predominantly Christian

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.6 children born/woman (1990)