Namibia (2003)

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Namibia 2003 year


Administrative divisions	13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Age structure	0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346) 15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Airports	135 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 114 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Area	total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly more than half the size of Alaska
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 following multi-party elections and the establishment of a constitution. President NUJOMA is currently serving his third term as president.
Birth rate	34.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	revenues: $883 million expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Capital	Windhoek
Climate	desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Coastline	1,572 km
Constitution	ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Country name	conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Currency	Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate	19.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	$517 million (2002 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Disputes - international	commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge; Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia
Economic aid - recipient	ODA $160 million (2000 est.)
Economy - overview	The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. 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 the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment.
Electricity - consumption	603.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production	26.95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Environment - current issues	very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements	party to: Antarctic-Marine Living 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
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%
Exchange rates	Namibian dollars per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)
Executive branch	chief of state: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002) 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%
Exports	0 kWh (2001)
Exports	$1.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners	EU 79%, US 4% (2001)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March
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
GDP	purchasing power parity - $13.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 11% industry: 28% services: 61% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	2.3% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	22 00 S, 17 00 E
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
Highways	total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Imports	$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners	US 50%, EU 31% (2001)
Independence	21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%
Industries	meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Infant mortality rate	total: 68.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	8% (2001)
International organization participation	ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	2 (2000)
Irrigated land	70 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force	725,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries	total: 3,936 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km
Land use	arable land: 0.99% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.01% (1998 est.)
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
Legal system	based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
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) 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, note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 42.77 years male: 44.27 years female: 41.22 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84% male: 84.4% female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Location	Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Map references	Africa
Maritime claims	contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine	none (2002 est.)
Military branches	National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$73.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	2.4% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability	males age 15-49: 459,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	males age 15-49: 274,015 (2003 est.)
National holiday	Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Nationality	noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian
Natural hazards	prolonged periods of drought
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
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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 leaders	NA
Population	1,927,447 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 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	50% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate	1.49% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Railways	total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Religions	Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
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)
Telephones - main lines in use	110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular	82,000 (2000 est.)
Television broadcast stations	8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain	mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Total fertility rate	4.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	35% (1998)
Waterways	none

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