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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

62,800 telephones; telephone density - 38/1,000 persons local: good urban services intercity: fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire international: NA

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 3 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $54 million, 2% of GDP (FY93/94) NAURU

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 348,380; males fit for military service 206,684 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 10% of GDP; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.539 (January 1995), 3.5489 (1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

about $385 million (1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Imports [time series]

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland

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

growth rate -14% (1993); accounts for 30% of GDP, including mining

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11% (1994)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$3,600 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

5.8% (1994 est.)

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 25% of GDP. 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

Unemployment rate [time series]

35% in urban areas (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline [time series]

1,572 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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 mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice;

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Windhoek

Constitution [time series]

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Digraph [time series]

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

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president by popular vote cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

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

[1] (202) 986-0443

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

[264] (61) 229792

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 that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Independence [time series]

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

Legislative branch (National Council) [time series]

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 [time series]

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

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

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

South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Kephics CONRUDIE; Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS; Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP); Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII; Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses KATJIUONGA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47% (female 384,885; male 394,216) 15-64 years: 50% (female 414,283; male 405,938) 65 years and over: 3% (female 26,783; male 25,440) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

43.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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 include (with approximate share of total population): Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

59.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

total population: 62.1 years male: 59.37 years female: 64.9 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

1,651,545 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.44% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

80%-90% Christian (50% Lutheran; at least 30% other Christian denominations)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 135 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: 20 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 23 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 70

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 54,500 km paved: 4,080 km unpaved: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 2,341 km (single track) narrow gauge: 2,341 km 1.067-m gauge