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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

195,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire international: NA note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

89,722 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

8 (of which five are main stations and three are low-power stations; there are also about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

27,000 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$315 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$127 million (1998)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% 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. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is three times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

1.11 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

1.11 billion kWh (1996) note: imports electricity from South Africa

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates [time series]

Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1--5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

UK 38%, South Africa 24%, Spain 12%, Japan 7% (1996 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April--31 March

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

purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.48 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

South Africa 87%, Germany, US, Japan (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10% (1994)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

500,000

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 49%, industry and commerce 25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Climate [time series]

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Coastline [time series]

1,572 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

22 00 S, 17 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

60 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,824 km border countries: 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% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 22% other: 31% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

prolonged periods of drought

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

Capital [time series]

Windhoek

Constitution [time series]

ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr. embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek mailing address: use embassy street address

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote--76%

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council--last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly--last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: National Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--SWAPO 73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by party--SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1 note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

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

South West Africa People's KATJIUONGUA]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$90 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.6% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 380,528 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 228,225 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (male 366,030; female 358,105) 15-64 years: 52% (male 424,879; female 435,116) 65 years and over: 4% (male 26,787; female 37,353) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

19.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [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 are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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: 41.26 years male: 41.64 years female: 40.87 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

1,648,270 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.57% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested

Transportation

Airports [time series]

135 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 113 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 70 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 64,799 km paved: 7,841 km unpaved: 56,958 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways [time series]

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