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NAVIGATION
Republic of Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
GOVERNMENT
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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 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% |
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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 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) note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body 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, |
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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, 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 |
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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 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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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 |
ECONOMY
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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. 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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 11%
industry: 28% services: 61% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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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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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8.8% (2001) |
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Labor force:
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500,000 |
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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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30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $883 million
expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) (1998) |
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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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30 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 2%
other: 0% (2000) hydro: 98% nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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890.9 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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863 million kWh
note: supplied by South Africa (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish |
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Exports:
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$1.58 billion f.o.b. (2001 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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UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.) |
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Imports:
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$1.71 billion f.o.b. (2001 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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South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$217 million (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$127 million (1998) (1998) |
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Currency:
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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 - 11.58786 (January 2002), 8.60918 (2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |