The World Factbook (1990)/Namibia
Namibia
_Namibia.jpg)
See regional map VII
Geography
Total area: 824,290 km²; land area:
823,290 km²
Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries: 3,935 km total; Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,489 km
Maritime claims:
- Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
- Territorial sea: 6 nm
Disputes: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; possible future claim to South Africa's Walvis Bay
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of coal and iron ore
Land use: 1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 64% meadows and pastures; 22% forest and woodland; 13% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification
Note: Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia
People
Population: 1,452,951 (July 1990), growth
rate 5.6% (1990)
Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 20 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 71 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 57 years male, 63 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Namibian(s); adjective—Namibian
Ethnic divisions: 86% black, 6.5% white, 7.5% mixed; about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe
Religion: predominantly Christian
Language: Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official); several indigenous languages
Literacy: 100% whites, 16% nonwhites
Labor force: 500,000; 60% agriculture, 19% industry and commerce, 8% services, 7% government, 6% mining (1981 est.)
Organized labor: 15 trade unions—largest is the mineworkers' union which has a sizable black membership
Government
Long-form name: Republic of Namibia
Type: republic as of 21 March 1990
Capital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions: 26 districts; Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Maltahöhe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek
Independence: 21 March 1990
Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
National holiday: Settlers' Day, 10 December
Executive branch: president, Cabinet, Constitutional Council
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government—President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)
Political parties and leaders: South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam Nujoma; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Dirk Mudge; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus Garoeb; Action Christian National (ACN), Kosie Pretorius; National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses Katjiuongua; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans Diergaardt; Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii Rukoro
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: National Assembly— last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
Communists: no Communist party
Other political or pressure groups: NA
Member of: FAO, IAEA, ILO, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation: NA
Flag: 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 which is contrasted by two narrow white edge borders
Economy
Overview: The economy is heavily dependent
on the mining industry to extract and
process minerals for export. Mining
accounts for almost 35% of GDP, agriculture
and fisheries 10-15%, and manufacturing
about 5%. Namibia is the
fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals
in Africa and the world's fifth-largest
producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond
deposits are among the richest in the world,
making Namibia a primary source for
gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also
produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin,
silver, and tungsten, and it has substantial
resources of coal.
GNP: $1.54 billion, per capita $1,245; real growth rate 2.9% (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.1% (1989)
Unemployment rate: over 30% (1988)
Budget: revenues $781 million; expenditures $932 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports: $935 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities—diamonds, uranium, zinc, copper, meat, processed fish, karakul skins; partners—South Africa
Imports: $856 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities—foodstuffs, manufactured consumer goods, machinery and equipment; partners—South Africa, FRO, UK, US
External debt: about $27 million at independence; under a 1971 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, Namibia may not be liable for debt incurred during its colonial period
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 486,000 kW capacity; 1,280 million kWh produced, 930 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)
Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing); mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops—millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1987 catch reaching only 520,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in food
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million
Currency: South African rand (plural—rand); 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1—2.5555 (January 1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Railroads: 2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge,
single track
Highways: 54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km earth roads and tracks
Ports: Luderitz; primary maritime outlet is Walvis Bay (South Africa)
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
Airports: 143 total, 123 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: good urban, fair rural services; radio relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones; stations—2 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV
Defense Forces
Branches: NA
Military manpower: males 15-49, 298,249; 176,660 fit for military service
Defense expenditures: 4.9% of GNP (1986)
Note: the South-West Africa Territorial Force, established in 1980, was demobilized in June 1989; a new national defense force will probably be formed by the new government