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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.na

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

3,164 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

65,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

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: country code - 264; 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 (2002)

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

127,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

223,700 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.434 billion expenditures: $1.62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

NAD; ZAR

Current account balance [time series]

$123 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.04 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

70 (2003)

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

ODA $160 million (2000 est.)

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. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half 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 the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fish production led growth in 2003.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

603.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

26.95 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$1.09 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

EU 79%, US 4% (2001)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $13.85 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 11.5% industry: 29.8% services: 58.7% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2003 est.)

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

3.3% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$1.371 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 50%, EU 31% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.3% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

760,000 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

31.15 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

50% (2002 est.)

Public debt [time series]

35.6% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$325.2 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

35% (1998)

Geography

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; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

22 00 S, 17 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

70 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,936 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.99% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.01% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

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 former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792

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 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since November 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002) 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 15 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009) election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - NA%

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, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, UDF 3, MAG 1, other 4 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 Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 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. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since. 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.

Military

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

Namibian Defense Force: Army (including Naval Wing, Air Wing), Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$111.6 million (2003)

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

2.5% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 468,934 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 279,755 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 419,700; female 409,156) 15-64 years: 54% (male 527,553; female 528,386) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,427; female 38,811) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

33.51 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

21.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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]

21.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

16,000 (2003 est.)

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

210,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 69.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 72.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 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: 40.53 years male: 42.36 years female: 38.64 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84% male: 84.4% female: 83.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.3 years male: 18 years female: 18.6 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

1,954,033 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.25% (2004 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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundary convergence is not clearly defined or delimited; Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia

Transportation

Airports [time series]

136 (2003 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 115 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2004 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 (2003)