Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.na

Internet users [time series]

9,000 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 34, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios [time series]

232,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100 persons domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire; 100% digital international: fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

100,848 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

60,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $883 million expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

NAD; ZAR

Debt - external [time series]

$217 million (2000 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 four times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of large-scale unemployment, the great inequality of income distribution, and the large amount of wealth going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa. GDP growth in 2000 was led by gains in the diamond and fish sectors. Agreement has been reached on the privatization of several more enterprises in coming years, which should stimulate long-run foreign investment. Growth in 2001 could be 5.5% provided the world economy remains stable.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.948 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

56 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

890 million kWh note: supplied by South Africa (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.198 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 2% hydro: 98% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2000 est.)

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

4% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.1% (2000)

Labor force [time series]

500,000

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification

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

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Terrain [time series]

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

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 former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey A. BADER embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [264] (61) 221601

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Sam Shafishuna 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 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%

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

[1] (202) 986-0443

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

[264] (61) 229792

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]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other 1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1, note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

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

Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

South Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika 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 was soon named 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. Independence came in 1990.

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

National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$104.4 million (2001)

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

2.6% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 427,067 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 255,016 (2001 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.74% (male 389,028; female 379,229) 15-64 years: 53.54% (male 480,075; female 482,375) 65 years and over: 3.72% (male 29,109; female 37,861) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.71 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.9 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

19.54% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

18,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

160,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

71.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 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: 40.62 years male: 42.48 years female: 38.71 years (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

1,797,677 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.38% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.83 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

131 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 110 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 69 under 914 m: 18 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 63,258 km paved: 5,250 km unpaved: 58,008 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2000 est.)

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)

Waterways [time series]

none