1.
[syn: Namibia, Republic of Namibia, South West Africa]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Namibia
n 1: a republic in southwestern Africa on the south Atlantic
coast (formerly called South West Africa); achieved
independence from South Africa in 1990; the greater part of
Namibia forms part of the high Namibian plateau of South
Africa [syn: Namibia, Republic of Namibia, South West
Africa]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Namibia
Introduction Namibia
--------------------
Background: 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. Independence came
in 1990.
Geography Namibia
-----------------
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and
South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than half the size of
Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km,
Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967
km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse
and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert
along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold,
lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,
salt, vanadium, natural gas,
hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil,
coal, and iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; desertification; wildlife
poaching; land degradation has led
to few conservation areas
Environment - international party to: Antarctic-Marine Living
agreements: 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
Geography - note: 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
People Namibia
--------------
Population: 1,820,916
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 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.6% (male 392,706;
female 382,690)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 490,151;
female 488,052)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male
29,345; female 37,972) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.19% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 34.17 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 22.28 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: 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
(2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 72.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 38.97 years
female: 37.07 years (2002 est.)
male: 40.81 years
Total fertility rate: 4.77 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 19.54% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 160,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 18,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups: 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%
Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50%
at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to
20%
Languages: 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
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 38%
male: 45%
female: 31% (1960 est.)
Government Namibia
------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa,
South-West Africa
Government type: republic
Capital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap,
Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena,
Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana,
Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African
mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective
12 March 1990
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990
constitution
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: 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%
Legislative branch: 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)
note: the National Council is
primarily an advisory body
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,
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges appointed by
the president on the recommendation
of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders: 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 pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77,
participation: IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard
Nangolo IIPUMBU
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin
US: J. McGUIRE
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen
Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029
Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag description: 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
Economy Namibia
---------------
Economy - overview: 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.
About 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
five times the per capita GDP of
Africa's poorest 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.
Agreement has been reached on the
privatization of several more
enterprises in coming years, which
should stimulate long-run foreign
investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.1
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,500
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11%
industry: 28%
services: 61% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.8% (2001)
Labor force: 500,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 47%, industry 20%,
services 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% to 40%, including
underemployment (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $883 million
expenditures: $950 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1998)
Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy
products; mining (diamond, lead,
zinc, tin, silver, tungsten,
uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Electricity - production: 30 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2%
other: 0% (2000)
hydro: 98%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 890.9 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 863 million kWh
note: supplied by South Africa
(2000)
Agriculture - products: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock;
fish
Exports: $1.58 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead,
uranium; cattle, processed fish,
karakul skins
Exports - partners: UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%,
France 8%, Japan (1998 est.)
Imports: $1.71 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and
fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals
Imports - partners: South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2%
(1997 est.)
Debt - external: $217 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $127 million (1998)
Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD); South African
rand (ZAR)
Currency code: NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates: Namibian dollars per US dollar -
11.58786 (January 2002), 8.60918
(2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948
(1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796
(1997)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Namibia
----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 82,000 (2000)
Telephone system: 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 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios: 232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (plus about 20 low-power
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 60,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .na
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 30,000 (2001)
Transportation Namibia
----------------------
Railways: total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge
(2001)
Highways: total: 64,800 km
paved: 5,378 km
unpaved: 59,430 km (2001)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 137 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 115
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2001)
Military Namibia
----------------
Military branches: National Defense Force (Army,
including Air Wing), Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 436,642 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 260,879 (2002 est.)
service:
Military expenditures - dollar $104.4 million (2001)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 2.6% (FY97/98)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Namibia
----------------------------
Disputes - international: none