Page last updated on January 31, 2014
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.
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
total: 824,292 sq km
country comparison to the world: 34
land: 823,290 sq km
water: 1,002 sq km
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 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
arable land: 0.97%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.02% (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
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%
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%
Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
2,182,852 (July 2013 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 (July 2013 est.)
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 358,876/female 352,068)
15-24 years: 23.1% (male 254,809/female 249,256)
25-54 years: 35.3% (male 399,283/female 370,202)
55-64 years: 4.8% (male 47,261/female 57,565)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 40,756/female 52,776) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 65.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 59.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 %
potential support ratio: 17 (2013)
total: 22.4 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 22.4 years (2013 est.)
0.75% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
20.72 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
13.33 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
urban population: 38.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
WINDHOEK (capital) 342,000 (2009)
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: 1.07 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
total: 45.62 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 48
male: 48.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 52.03 years
country comparison to the world: 215
male: 52.36 years
female: 51.69 years (2013 est.)
2.33 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
5.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 132
0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
13.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
180,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
6,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
9.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
17.5% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 42
8.3% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.8%
male: 89%
female: 88.5% (2010 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)
total: 40.1%
country comparison to the world: 13
male: 29.4%
female: 34.3% (2012)
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
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 Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005); Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB (since 4 December 2012)
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); if no single candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round of voting, a run-off election is scheduled between the two candidates with the greatest vote count; 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%
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, an additonal six nonvoting members are appointed by the president)
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
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]
National Society for Human Rights or NSHR (NAMRIGHTS as of 2010)
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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 Wanda L. NESBITT (since 20 July 2010)
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
name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
note: adopted 1991
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. Marine diamond mining is becoming increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. 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. 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 59.7 GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. 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 volatility in the price of uranium. 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.
$16.82 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$12.9 billion (2012 est.)
5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$7,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
18.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
household consumption: 59.4%
government consumption: 25.3%
investment in fixed capital: 21.2%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 42.9%
imports of goods and services: -49%
agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 29.4%
services: 62.7% (2012 est.)
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta and beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
7.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
911,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
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.)
51.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
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.)
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 42% (2010)
59.7 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
revenues: $4.524 billion
expenditures: $4.885 billion (2012 est.)
35.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
-2.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
25.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
6.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
12% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
8.7% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$2.941 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$7.433 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$6.266 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$1.152 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 107
$-414 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$4.883 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
$6.44 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
$1.738 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$4.292 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
1.643 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
3.635 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
91 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
2.519 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
508,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
33.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
66.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 202
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
22,990 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
20,810 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 63
3.217 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
171,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 130
2.435 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 137
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 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 is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
78,280 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 84
127,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
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:
total: 2,626 km
country comparison to the world: 63
narrow gauge: 2,626 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
total: 44,138 km
country comparison to the world: 82
paved: 6,387 km
unpaved: 37,751 km (2010)
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 152
by type: cargo 1 (2010)
major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay
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.)
3.11% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 49
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
