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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 private and 1 state-run television station; satellite and cable TV service is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations operating; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.na

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

76,020 (2010) country comparison to the world: 80

Internet users [time series]

127,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of nearly 60 telephones per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 per 100 persons 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 (2008)

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

152,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 134

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.535 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 144

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.103 billion expenditures: $3.874 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-6.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Central bank discount rate [time series]

12% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.72% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 11.12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$11.35 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 -$160.9 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.101 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $2.199 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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

70.7 (2003) country comparison to the world: 1

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 world's fourth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a small producer of gold and other minerals. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about 35-40% 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, as shown by Namibia's 70.7 GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010, Namibia drew 40% of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU allotments to Namibia increased in 2009, but will drop for 2010 and 2011 because South Africa went into recession during the global economic crisis, reducing overall SACU income. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, and uranium spurred growth in 2003-08, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches, a dramatic decline in demand for diamonds, higher costs of producing metals, and the global recession. A rebound in diamond and uranium prices in 2010 provided a significant boost to Namibia's mining sector. Copper mines, which closed in 2008, are slated to reopen in 2011.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

3.928 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - exports [time series]

47 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

2.197 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Exchange rates [time series]

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.57 (2010) 8.42 (2009) 7.75 (2008) 7.18 (2007) 6.7649 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$4.115 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $3.535 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$11.87 billion (2010 est.)

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

$14.6 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $13.98 billion (2009 est.) $14.1 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 7.3% industry: 34.3% services: 58.4% (2010 est.)

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

$6,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $6,600 (2009 est.) $6,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 -0.8% (2009 est.) 4.3% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 53% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$4.904 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $4.519 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 8.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Labor force [time series]

789,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 16.3% industry: 22.4% services: 61.3% note: statistics are for the formal sector only; about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$1.176 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 105 $846.3 million (31 December 2009) $618.7 million (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - consumption [time series]

24,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - imports [time series]

19,890 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Population below poverty line [time series]

55.8% note: the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day (2005 est.)

Public debt [time series]

20.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 14.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$1.495 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $1.846 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$8.078 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $6.595 billion (31 December 2009 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]

$6.553 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $4.726 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$3.653 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $2.839 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

26.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Unemployment rate [time series]

51.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 36.7% (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 824,292 sq km country comparison to the world: 34 land: 823,290 sq km water: 1,002 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 freshwater 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 (2008)

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 South-West Africa (Sued-West Afrika), South-West Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT 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 Martin ANDJABA 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014) election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0%, Katuutire KAURA 3.0%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9%, Justus GAROEB 2.4%, Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3%, Hendrick MUDGE 1.2%, other 1.8%

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; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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]

mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council, primarily an advisory body (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms), and the National Assembly (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 26-27 November 2010 (next to be held in 2016); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 75.3%, RDP 11.3%, DTA 3.1%, NUDO 3.0%, UDF 2.4%, APP 1.4%, RP 0.8%, COD 0.7%, SWANU 0.6%, other 1.3%; seats by party - SWAPO 54, RDP 8, DTA 2, NUDO 2, UDF 2, APP 1, COD 1, RP 1, SWANU 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave" lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB note: adopted 1991

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

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

All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]; Congress of Democrats or COD [Benjamin 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 [Hendrick MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]; 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]

National Society for Human Rights or NSHR (NAMRIGHTS as of 2010); various labor unions

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 became 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. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 568,231 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 351,431 females age 16-49: 311,513 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 26,413 female: 26,038 (2010 est.)

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

Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

3.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 31

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34.2% (male 371,078/female 364,232) 15-64 years: 61.7% (male 671,853/female 652,414) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 38,851/female 49,157) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.48 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

17.5% (2007) country comparison to the world: 43

Death rate [time series]

12.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 88% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 12% of population total: 8% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 23

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]

13.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

6,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

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

180,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 109

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.67 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 84

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 45.59 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 54 male: 48.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official) 7%, Afrikaans (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), German 32%, indigenous languages (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama) 1%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 52.19 years country comparison to the world: 208 male: 52.48 years female: 51.89 years (2011 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 urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

WINDHOEK (capital) 342,000 (2009)

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 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

180 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 61

Median age [time series]

total: 21.7 years male: 21.7 years female: 21.8 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.374 physicians/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 132

Population [time series]

2,147,585 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 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

Population growth rate [time series]

0.873% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 60% of population rural: 17% of population total: 33% of population unimproved: urban: 40% of population rural: 83% of population total: 67% of population (2008)

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

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.49 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 41.7% country comparison to the world: 7 male: 36.7% female: 47.1% (2004)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 38% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 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]

129 (2010) country comparison to the world: 46

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 108 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 11 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 158 by type: cargo 1 (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Railways [time series]

total: 2,626 km country comparison to the world: 62 narrow gauge: 2,626 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 64,189 km country comparison to the world: 71 paved: 5,477 km unpaved: 58,712 km (2010)