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Compare Western Sahara (2008) - Namibia (2002)

Compare Western Sahara (2008) z Namibia (2002)

 Western Sahara (2008)Namibia (2002)
 Western SaharaNamibia
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Age structure 0-14 years: 45.4% (male 88,176/female 85,421)


15-64 years: 52.3% (male 98,345/female 101,895)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,705/female 5,075) (2007 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Airports 9 (2007) 137 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)
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: 6


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
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: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 825,418 sq km


land: 825,418 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Background 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. In April 2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to the UN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisario also presented a plan to the UN in 2007. Since August 2007, representatives from the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front have met three times to negotiate the status of Western Sahara, with a fourth round of negotiations planned for March 2008. 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.
Birth rate NA 39.95 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 34.17 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
revenues: $883 million


expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) (1998)
Capital none


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Windhoek
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Coastline 1,110 km 1,572 km
Constitution - ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
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 NA 22.28 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $NA $217 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US none 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 none 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 Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; several states have extended diplomatic relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; most of the approximately 102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $127 million (1998) (1998)
Economy - overview 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. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara. 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.
Electricity - consumption 79.05 million kWh (2005) 890.9 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 863 million kWh


note: supplied by South Africa (2000)
Electricity - production 85 million kWh (2005) 30 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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 Arab, Berber 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 Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.2827 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003) Namibian dollars per US dollar - 11.58786 (January 2002), 8.60918 (2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997)
Executive branch none 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 bbl/day (2004) $1.58 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006) UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.)
Fiscal year calendar 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 - $8.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40%
agriculture: 11%


industry: 28%


services: 61% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas 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: 64,800 km


paved: 5,378 km


unpaved: 59,430 km (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports 1,698 bbl/day (2004) $1.71 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006) South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.)
Independence - 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
72.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 8.8% (2001)
International organization participation none ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, 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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force 12,000 500,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 50%


industry and services: 50%
agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
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: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2005)
arable land: 0.99%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.01% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic 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: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 38.97 years


male: 40.81 years


female: 37.07 years (2002 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 38%


male: 45%


female: 31% (1960 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue 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 - $104.4 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.6% (FY97/98)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 436,642 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 260,879 (2002 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Nationality noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Namibian(s)


adjective: Namibian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility prolonged periods of drought
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore 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 (2002 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 none NA
Population 382,617


note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2007 est.)
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.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate NA 1.19% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios - 232,000 (1997)
Railways - total: 2,382 km


narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2001)
Religions Muslim Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Sex ratio NA 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.)
Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
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 about 2,000 (1999 est.) 110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 82,000 (2000 est)
Television broadcast stations NA 8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Total fertility rate NA 4.77 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)
Waterways - none
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