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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.na

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

6,296 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

101,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 45 per 100 persons domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2007)

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

138,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

800,300 (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (2007)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.765 billion expenditures: $2.515 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

10.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

12.88% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

$805.2 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

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

70.7 (2003)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. 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 one of the world's most unequal income distributions. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Increased payments from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence, but SACU payments will decline after 2008 as part of a new revenue sharing formula. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-07, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches and high costs for metal inputs.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

3.194 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.948 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2006 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.606 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$2.919 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2006)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$7.4 billion (2007 est.)

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

$10.69 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 10.6% industry: 35.4% services: 53.9% (2007 est.)

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

$5,200 (2007 est.)

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

3.6% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 64.5% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$3.091 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 85.2%, US (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

23.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

660,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$541.8 million (2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

19,840 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

17,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Public debt [time series]

22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$896 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$4.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$2.149 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$1.493 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.2% (2007 est.)

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]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%) per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

80 sq km (2003)

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: 0.01% other: 99% (2005)

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, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, 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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

45.5 cu km (1991)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Windhoek geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

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 local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador G. Dennise MATHIEU embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500 FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO 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 21 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005) 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green

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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, 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]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

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

Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist group); National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World Information Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)

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 has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. 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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 527,948 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 313,497 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 25,525 female: 25,182 (2008 est.)

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

Namibian Defense Force: Army, Navy, Air Wing (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36.7% (male 386,252/female 379,426) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 627,752/female 615,241) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 35,960/female 44,038) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.19 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.9% of GDP (2003)

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 include 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: 45.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 41.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 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 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 49.89 years male: 50.39 years female: 49.38 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 86.8% female: 83.5% (2001 census)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 20.7 years male: 20.6 years female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

2,088,669 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.947% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

137 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 116 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways [time series]

total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 42,237 km paved: 5,406 km unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)