World Facts Index
 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.
Geography of Namibia
|
Location:
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Southern Africa, bordering
the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa |
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Coordinates:
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22 00 S, 17 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly more than half the
size of Alaska |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South
Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km |
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Coastline:
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1,572 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24
NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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desert; hot, dry; rainfall
sparse and erratic |
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Terrain:
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mostly high plateau; Namib
Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m |
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Natural resources:
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diamonds, copper, uranium,
gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas,
hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore |
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Natural hazards:
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prolonged periods of
drought |
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Environment current issues:
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very limited natural fresh
water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation
has led to few conservation areas |
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Geography - note:
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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
|
Population of Namibia
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Population:
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2,088,669 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970) |
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Median age:
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20 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.59% |
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Infant mortality:
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48.1 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 43.39 years
male: 44.46 years
female: 42.29 years |
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Fertility rate:
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3.06 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian |
|
Ethnic groups:
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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% |
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Religions:
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Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at
least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20% |
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Languages:
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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 |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 84%
male: 84.4%
female: 83.7%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Windhoek |
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Administrative divisions:
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13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas,
Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa |
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Independence:
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21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 March (1990) |
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Constitution:
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ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12
March 1990 |
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Legal system:
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based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990
constitution |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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) |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26
seats; 2 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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic
Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or
MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna
NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]; Republican Party or RP [Henk
MUDGE]; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO] |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$10.69 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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3.5% |
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GDP per capita:
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$7,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 31.5%
services: 58.8% |
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Inflation rate:
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2.3% |
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Labor force:
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820,000 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% |
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Unemployment:
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35% |
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Industries:
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meatpacking, fish processing, dairy
products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper) |
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Agriculture:
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millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish |
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Exports:
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diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead,
uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins |
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Export partners:
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South Africa 33.4%, US 4% |
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Imports:
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foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel,
machinery and equipment, chemicals |
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Import partners:
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South Africa 85.2%, US |
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Currency:
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Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand
(ZAR) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |