| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
22° 00' South Latitude
17° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
825,418 sq km |
| Climate |
Desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic |
| Natural Resources |
Diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Namibia |
| Capital City |
Windhoek |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa |
| Independence Day |
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
2,030,692 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Namibian |
| Ethnic Groups |
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% |
| Religion |
Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20% |
| Languages |
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 |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.73% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR) |
| Industries |
Meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper) |
| Labor Force |
840,000 (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish |
| Export Commodities |
Diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins |
| Export Partners |
EU 79%, US 4% (2001) |
| Import Commodities |
Foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals |
| Import Partners |
US 50%, EU 31% (2001) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
2,382 km |
| Highways |
42,237 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
136 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Luderitz, Walvis Bay |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+264 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.na |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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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