Background: South Africa occupied the German colony of South West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until the end of World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist guerrilla group South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) launched a war for the independence of the area, which was called Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to give up its authority over this area in accordance with the UN peace plan for the region.. Independence granted in 1990.
Geography
Location: southern Africa, Atlantic coast, between Angola and South Africa. See franciscogardening.com to know more about Namibia Geography.
Geographical coordinates: 22° 00′ S. latitude, 17° 00′ E
Reference map: Africa.
Area: total: 825,418 km2; land surface area: 825,418 km2; water surface area: 0 km2
Comparative area: somewhat smaller than the state of Alaska.
Land borders: total: 3,824 km; with neighboring states: with Angola 1,376 km, with Botswana 1,360 km, with South Africa 855 km, with Zambia 233 km.
Coastline: 1,572 km.
Maritime claims: neutral waters: 24 nautical miles; exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles; territorial waters: 12 nautical miles.
Climate: desert; hot dry; precipitation is scarce and irregular.
Terrain: mostly high plateau; the Namib Desert stretches along the coast; the Kalahari Desert in the east.
Maximum and minimum heights: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m; highest point: Mount Königstein 2,606 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish; note: oil, coal and iron ore reserves are assumed.
Land use: arable land: 1%; cultivated land: 0%; pastures: 46%; forests and plantations: 22%; others: 31% (1993 est.).
Irrigated land: 60 km2 (1993 est.).
Natural Hazards: prolonged droughts.
Current environmental issues: very limited natural sources of fresh water; desertification.
International Environmental Agreements: Member: Antarctic Marine Life Conservation, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed but not ratified: no.
Note to the section “Geography”:
Population
Population: 1,797,677; note: estimates for this country take into account rising AIDS deaths; due to the spread of AIDS, life expectancy, population size and population growth may actually be lower, and child mortality and overall mortality rates correspondingly higher; there may also be changes in age structure and sex ratios (July 2001 est.).
Age structure: under 14: 42.74% (male 389,082; female 379,229); 15 to 64 years old: 53.54% (male 480,074; female 482,375); over 65: 3.72% (male 29,109; female 37,861) (2001 est.);
Population growth: 1.38% (2001 est.).
Birth rate: 34.71 newborns / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Mortality: 20.9 deaths / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Migration: 0 people /1000 people (2001 est.).
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male/female; up to 15 years: 1.03 male/female; from 15 to 64 years old: 1 male/female; over 65: 0.77 male/female; for the general population: 1 male/female. (2001 est.);
Child mortality: 71.66 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.).
Life expectancy: for the general population: 40.62 years; men: 42.48 years; women: 38.71 years (2001 est.).
General birth rate: 4.83 children/wives. (2001 est.).
Proportion of adults infected with HIV: 19.54% (1999 est.).
Number of people infected with HIV: 160,000 (1999 est.).
AIDS deaths: 18,000 (1999 est.).
Nationality: noun: Namibian; adjective: Namibian.
Ethnic groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed ancestry 6.5%; note: approximately 50% of the population belongs to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavan-go tribe; other ethnic groups: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Namo 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%.
Believers: Christians from 80 to 90% (Lutherans 50% at the minimum estimate), adherents of local beliefs from 10 to 20%.
Language(s): English 7% (official), Afrikaans is the common language of the majority of the population and about 60% of whites, German 32%, local languages: Oshiwambo, Herero, Nama.
Literacy: definition: persons aged 15 and over who can read and write; for the general population: 38%; men: 45%; women: 31% (1960 est.). State Name:
Politics
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia;
conventional short form: Namibia; former name: German South West Africa, South West Africa
State structure: republic.
Capital: Windhoek.
Administrative divisions: 13 regions: Cap Rivi, Karas, Kunene, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusa-ti, Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Hardap, Homas, Erongo.
Dependent Territories:
Independence: March 21, 1990 (ruled by South Africa until 1990).
National holiday: Independence Day March 21 (1990).
Constitution: ratified February 9, 1990; entered into force on March 12, 1990
Legal system: based on Roman and Dutch law and the 1990 constitution.
Suffrage: from 18 years of age; universal.
chief of state: President Samuel Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note – the president is both head of state and head of government;
head of government: President Samuel Shafi-shuna NUYOMA (since 21 March 1990); note – the president is both head of state and head of government;
Government: the cabinet is appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; elections: the president is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term; elections last held 30 November – 1 December 1999 (next to be held in 2004); election results: Samuel NUJOMA elected president; percentage of votes – Samuel NUJOMA 77%.
Legislature: the bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are elected from each regional council for 6 years) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote for 5 years); Elections: National Council – Regional Council elections last November 30-December 1, 1998 (next to be held December 2004); National Assembly – last November 30-December 1, 1999 (next to be held in December 2004); election results: National Council, distribution of votes by party: NA; distribution of seats between parties: SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly, vote distribution by party: SWAPO 77%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%; distribution of seats between parties: SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1; note:
Judiciary: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Congress of Democrats (COD) (Ben ULENGA); Namibian Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) (Katuutire KAURA, President); Monitoring and Action Group (MAG) (Kosie PRETORIUS); South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) (Sam NUJOMA); United Democratic Front (UDF) (Justus GAROEB).
Political influence groups and their leaders:
Participation in international organizations: AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.
US Diplomatic Mission: Head of Mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU; office: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009; phone: [1] (202) 986-0540; fax: {C (202) 986-0443.
US Mission: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Jeffrey A. BADER; embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek; postal address: the address of the embassy is used; phone: [264] (61) 221601; fax: [264] (61) 229792.
Description of the flag: a large blue triangle with yellow sun rays in the upper left part, the same green triangle (solid color) fills the lower right part of the flag; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that has two white edges.
