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Compare Namibia (2008) - Western Sahara (2003)

Compare Namibia (2008) z Western Sahara (2003)

 Namibia (2008)Western Sahara (2003)
 NamibiaWestern Sahara
Administrative divisions 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 390,448/female 383,698)


15-64 years: 58.6% (male 606,239/female 597,512)


65 years and over: 3.8% (male 34,926/female 42,257) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Airports 137 (2007) 11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 21


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 13


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 116


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 22


914 to 1,523 m: 72


under 914 m: 20 (2007)
total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Area total: 825,418 sq km


land: 825,418 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than half the size of Alaska about the size of Colorado
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. 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. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate 23.52 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.561 billion


expenditures: $2.483 billion (2007 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital 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
none
Climate desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 1,572 km 1,110 km
Constitution ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990 -
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Namibia


conventional short form: Namibia


local long form: Republic of Namibia


local short form: Namibia


former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
Currency - Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Death rate 19.15 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $1.429 billion (31 December 2007 est.) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador G. Dennise MATHIEU


embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek


mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek


telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500


FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603
none
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO


chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540


FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
none
Disputes - international 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; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in 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 Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties have rejected other proposals; Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds
Economic aid - recipient ODA, $123.4 million (2005 est.) $NA
Economy - overview 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. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Electricity - consumption 2.863 billion kWh (2005) 83.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 78 million kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 1.567 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2005) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.688 billion kWh (2005) 90 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements 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
party to: none of the selected agreements


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 includes Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Arab, Berber
Exchange rates Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003) Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)
Executive branch 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); election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)


election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%
none
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins phosphates 62%
Exports - partners South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2006) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description 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 -
GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 10.6%


industry: 30.8%


services: 58.6% (2007 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 4.5% (2007 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 22 00 S, 17 00 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
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 the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Highways - total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.5%


highest 10%: 64.5% (2003)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports 17,580 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners South Africa 85.2%, US (2006) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000)
Independence 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) -
Industrial production growth rate 4.6% (2007 est.) NA%
Industries meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper) phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate total: 47.23 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 51.03 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 43.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.7% (2007 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 80 sq km (2003) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission) -
Labor force 660,000 (2007 est.) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 47%


industry: 20%


services: 33% (1999 est.)
animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Land boundaries total: 3,936 km


border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km
total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land: 0.99%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 99% (2005)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (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 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama) Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
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 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)


election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1


note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 43.11 years


male: 44.39 years


female: 41.79 years (2007 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 85%


male: 86.8%


female: 83.5% (2001 census)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2007)
-
Military branches Namibian Defense Force: Army, Navy, Air Wing (2006) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.7% (2006) NA%
National holiday Independence Day, 21 March (1990) -
Nationality noun: Namibian(s)


adjective: Namibian
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards prolonged periods of drought hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish


note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate 0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -
Political parties and leaders Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; 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 [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB] -
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 2,055,080


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 2007 est.)
261,794 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 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 NA%
Population growth rate 0.478% (2007 est.) NA% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways total: 2,382 km


narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
0 km
Religions Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20% Muslim
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.018 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.015 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.827 male(s)/female


total population: 1.008 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
NA (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 30 per 100 persons


domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-phone network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area


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
general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 138,900 (2005) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 495,000 (2005) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2007) NA
Terrain mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 2.94 children born/woman (2007 est.) NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.3% (2006 est.) NA%
Waterways - none
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