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Background:
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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 won its independence
in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since.
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. |
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Location:
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Southern
Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Angola and South Africa |
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Geographic coordinates:
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22 00 S,
17 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
more than half the size of Alaska |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360
km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km |
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Coastline:
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1,572 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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desert;
hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic |
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Terrain:
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mostly
high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert
in east |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m |
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Natural resources:
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diamonds,
copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium,
zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron
ore |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.01% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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70 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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prolonged
periods of drought |
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Environment - current issues:
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very
limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;
wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few
conservation areas |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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2,030,692
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 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 38.7% (male 396,247/female 389,543)
15-64 years: 57.7% (male 586,900/female 584,779)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 33,524/female
39,699) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
19.79 years
male: 19.63 years
female: 19.94 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.73%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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25.16
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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18.36
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.52
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
48.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 43.93 years
male: 44.71 years
female: 43.13 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.18
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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21.3%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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210,000
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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16,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun:
Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian |
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Ethnic groups:
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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% |
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Religions:
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Christian
80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs
10% to 20% |
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Languages:
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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 |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84%
male: 84.4%
female: 83.7% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West
Africa |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Windhoek
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Administrative divisions:
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13
regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,
Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto,
Otjozondjupa |
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Independence:
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21 March
1990 (from South African mandate) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 March (1990) |
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Constitution:
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ratified
9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 15
November 2004)
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; election last held 15 November 2004
(next to be held November 2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected
president; percent of vote - NA% |
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Legislative branch:
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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 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held
November 2009); National Assembly - last held 15-16
November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: National Council - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, UDF 3, MAG 1, other 4
note: the National Council is primarily an
advisory body |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP,
AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM,
ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Joyce BARR
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street,
Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz,
Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264] (61) 229792 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 $1,400 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. Mining of zinc, copper, and
silver and increased fish production led growth in
2003-04. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$14.76
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.8%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 11.3%
industry: 30.8%
services: 57.9% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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840,000
(2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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35%
(1998) |
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Population below poverty line:
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50% (2002
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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70 (2003)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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19.6% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.788 billion
expenditures: $1.956 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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38.5% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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millet,
sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish |
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Industries:
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meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium,
copper) |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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1.167
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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NA |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.92
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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65
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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900
million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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13,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1
January 2002) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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31.15
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance:
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$234.3
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$1.356
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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diamonds,
copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed
fish, karakul skins |
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Exports - partners:
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EU 79%,
US 4% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$1.473
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and
equipment, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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US 50%,
EU 31% (2001) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$360
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.136
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA $160
million (2000 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Namibian
dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR) |
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Currency code:
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NAD; ZAR
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Exchange rates:
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Namibian
dollars per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003),
10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April -
31 March |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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127,400
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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223,700
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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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: country code - 264; 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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM
39, shortwave 4 (2001) |
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Radios:
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232,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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8 (plus
about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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60,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.na |
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Internet hosts:
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3,164
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000)
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Internet users:
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65,000
(2003) |
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Railways:
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total:
2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
42,237 km
paved: 5,406 km
unpaved: 36,831 km (2002) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Luderitz,
Walvis Bay |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2005) |
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Airports:
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136 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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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 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
115
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Namibian
Defense Force: Army (includes Air Wing), Navy, Police
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 441,293 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$168.4
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3.1%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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border
commission has yet to resolve small residual disputes
with Botswana 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; 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
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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