-
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, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in November 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the November 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.
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Geography :: NAMIBIA
-
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Africa
total: 824,292 sq km
land: 823,290 sq km
water: 1,002 sq km
country comparison to the world:
34
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
total: 4,220 km
border countries (4): Angola 1,427 km, Botswana 1,544 km, South Africa 1,005 km, Zambia 244 km
1,572 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
agricultural land: 47.2%
arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 46.2%
forest: 8.8%
other: 44% (2011 est.)
75.73 sq km (2003)
17.72 cu km (2011)
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (25%/5%/70%)
per capita: 146 cu m/yr (2002)
prolonged periods of drought
limited natural freshwater resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
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
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
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People and Society :: NAMIBIA
-
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
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%
Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
2,212,307
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 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
143
0-14 years: 30.95% (male 345,767/female 339,026)
15-24 years: 23.11% (male 258,586/female 252,773)
25-54 years: 36.57% (male 422,026/female 386,948)
55-64 years: 4.88% (male 48,406/female 59,545)
65 years and over: 4.49% (male 42,635/female 56,595) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 67.3%
youth dependency ratio: 61.4%
elderly dependency ratio: 5.9%
potential support ratio: 17% (2015 est.)
total: 23.1 years
male: 23.1 years
female: 23.1 years (2015 est.)
0.59% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
151
19.8 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
85
13.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
8
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
86
urban population: 46.7% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 4.16% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
WINDHOEK (capital) 368,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 45.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 48.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
44
total population: 51.62 years
male: 52.05 years
female: 51.18 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
220
2.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
101
55.1% (2006/07)
7.7% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
54
0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
improved:
urban: 98.2% of population
rural: 84.6% of population
total: 91% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.8% of population
rural: 15.4% of population
total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 54.5% of population
rural: 16.8% of population
total: 34.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 45.5% of population
rural: 83.2% of population
total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)
15.97% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
6
245,400 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
24
5,100 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
31
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
16.8% (2014)
country comparison to the world:
133
13.2% (2013)
country comparison to the world:
37
8.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world:
9
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.9%
male: 79.2%
female: 84.5% (2015 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)
total: 34.3%
male: 29.4%
female: 40.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
19
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Government :: NAMIBIA
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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 (Deutsch Suedwest Afrika), South-West Africa
republic
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
14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990; amended 1998, 2010 (2010)
mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held on 28 November 2014)
election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0%
description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) and the National Council, which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (26 seats (to be expanded to 42 in 2016); members indirectly elected 2 each by the 13 regional councils to serve 5-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 November 2015); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019)
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 80.0%, DTA 4.8%, RDP 3.5%, APP 2.3%, UDF 2.1%, NUDO 2.0%, CPN 1.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77, DTA 5, RDP 3, APP 2, UDF 2, NUDO 2, CPN 2, SWANU 1, UPM 1, RP 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65 but can be extended by the president until age 70
subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]
Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) [Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK]
Congress of Democrats or CoD [Ben ULENGA]
Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI]
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 [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]
South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]
United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus //GAROEB]
United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS
other: various labor unions
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA (since 3 September 2010)
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON (since 6 October 2014)
embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500
FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603
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
oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow
name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
note: adopted 1991
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Economy :: NAMIBIA
-
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 11.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is becoming increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. It also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. The mining and quarrying sectors employ less than 2% of the population. 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. A five-year, Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second Compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment complicates budget planning. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations, and drought. The rising cost of mining diamonds, increasingly from the sea, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities recognize these issues and have emphasized the need to increase higher value raw materials, manufacturing, and services, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.
$23.82 billion (2014 est.)
$22.79 billion (2013 est.)
$21.3 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
137
$13.35 billion (2014 est.)
5.3% (2014 est.)
5.1% (2013 est.)
5.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
66
$10,800 (2014 est.)
$10,200 (2013 est.)
$9,700 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
128
-
23.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
20.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
21% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
79
household consumption: 64.7%
government consumption: 29%
investment in fixed capital: 27.5%
investment in inventories: -2%
exports of goods and services: 43.5%
imports of goods and services: -62.7%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 30%
services: 63.7% (2014 est.)
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
5.7% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
44
991,000 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
139
agriculture: 16.3%
industry: 22.4%
services: 61.3%
note: 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.)
28.1% (2014 est.)
29.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
177
28.7% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 42% (2010)
59.7 (2010)
70.7 (2003)
country comparison to the world:
6
revenues: $5.021 billion
expenditures: $5.659 billion (2014 est.)
38.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
32
-4.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
175
22.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
23.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
130
1 April - 31 March
5.3% (2014 est.)
5.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
175
6% (31 December 2014)
5.5% (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world:
65
9% (31 December 2014 est.)
8.29% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
99
$3.867 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
111
$7.496 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$6.574 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
116
$6.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$5.993 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
115
$1.305 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$1.152 billion (31 December 2011)
$1.176 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
104
-$883 million (2014 est.)
-$782.5 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
113
$4.963 billion (2014 est.)
$4.62 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
115
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, white fish and mollusks
$7.657 billion (2014 est.)
$6.624 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
116
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
$1.651 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.503 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
126
$6.021 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$4.845 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
123
$NA
$NA
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
9.6502 (2014 est.)
8.2099 (2013 est.)
8.2 (2012 est.)
7.2597 (2011 est.)
7.3212 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: NAMIBIA
-
1.796 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
144
4.238 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
121
89 million kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
82
2.907 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
49
1.087 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
122
31.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
177
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
204
68.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
26
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
140
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
142
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
204
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
141
0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
206
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
207
22,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
120
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
143
21,990 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
103
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
207
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
207
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
206
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
148
62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
60
3.716 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
136
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Communications :: NAMIBIA
-
total subscriptions: 180,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
128
total: 2.7 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
143
general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers with digital connections
domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of more than 100 telephones 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 (2010)
1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2007)
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
2 (2007)
.na
total: 325,400
percent of population: 14.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
140
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Transportation :: NAMIBIA
-
112 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
52
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 52
under 914 m:
16 (2013)
total: 2,628 km
narrow gauge: 2,628 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world:
65
total: 44,138 km
paved: 6,387 km
unpaved: 37,751 km (2010)
country comparison to the world:
81
total: 1
by type: cargo 1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:
153
major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay
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Military :: NAMIBIA
-
Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
males age 16-49: 568,231 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 351,431
females age 16-49: 311,513 (2010 est.)
male: 26,413
female: 26,038 (2010 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2015)
3.11% of GDP (2012)
3.38% of GDP (2011)
3.11% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world:
20
-
Transnational Issues :: NAMIBIA
-
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; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of 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
current situation: Namibia is predominantly a country of origin and destination for children and, to a lesser extent, women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; victims, lured by promises of legitimate jobs, are forced to work in hazardous condition in urban centers and on commercial farms; traffickers exploit Namibian children, as well as children from Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, for forced labor in agriculture, cattle herding, domestic service, fishing, and street vending; children are also forced into prostitution, often catering to tourists from southern Africa and Europe; San girls are particularly vulnerable
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Namibia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; draft anti-trafficking legislation awaits review by the attorney general and the Child Care and Protection Bill, which would criminalize child trafficking, is still pending parliamentary approval; the government developed a national protection referral network for crime victims in 2013, but it has not been fully operationalized; authorities did not make systematic efforts to identify trafficking victims or to screen vulnerable groups for potential victims (2014)