Namibia

This Page was last updated on the 25th. October, 2005.

Country	Namibia
Official Name	Republic of Namibia
Former Name	German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa (San were earliest inhabitants, later Nama and Damara; Ovambo and Herero migrated from north in 14th century A.D.; European exploration in late 18th century; UK annexed Walvis Bay for Cape Colony [1878] and incorporated it into colony in 1884; Adolf Luderitz, German trader, claimed rest of coastal region in 1883; UK-German negotiations resulted in Germany's annexation of coastal region, UK recognized hinterland as German; Caprivi Strip became part of South West Africa [SWA] after on 1 July 1890; German colonial power consolidated afer Herero and Nama wars in 1904-08; South Africa occupied SWA in 1915; South Africa undertook administration of SWA under League of Nations mandate on 17 December 1920; the new United Nations took on authority for territory in 1946; South Africa refused to place territory under UN trusteeship agreement; UN revoked South Africa's mandate in 1966; South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrillas start war of independence in 1966; International Court of Justice upheld UN authority over Namibia, that South African’s presence was illegal and therefore was obligated to withdraw from Namibia in 1971; UN Resolution 435 [April 1978] called for elections move to independence for Namibia; intense international and UN discussions continued during 1978-88; South Africa agreed to end administration in accordance with UN peace plan in 1988; Resolution 435 finally implemented on 1 April 1989; SWAPO got 57% of vote in elections held in November 1989; Constituent Assembly held first meeting on 21 November; drafted and adopted constitution by 9 February 1990; independence on 21 March; Walvis Bay and 12 islands were transferred to Namibia by South Africa on 1 March 1994.)
Capital	Windhoek
Main Towns	Grootfontein, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Ondangwa, Oranjemund, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Walvis Bay, Windhoek (pop. 233,529, 2001 census)
Subdivisions	13 regions: Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence	21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Constitution	ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
National Holiday	Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
UN Membership	23 April 1990
OAU Membership	1990 – now African Union (AU)
Commonwealth	21 March 1990
Other Organisations	In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM - observer), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO - correspondent), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Confederation of Labour (WCL), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).
Population	World Bank Figures: 1,834,710 (1999), 1,894,000 (2000), 1,944,250 (2001), 1,984,653 (2002), 2,014,546 (2003) Other Sources: 1,651,545 (July 1995), 1,797,677 (July 2001 est.), 1.8 million (2002 est.), 1,927,447 (July 2003 est.) 2 million (UN 2003), 2,030,692 (July 2005 est.)
Area	318,253 sq. mls. (824,272 sq. kms.)
Density	2 per sq.km. (1995)
Highest Point	Brandberg 8,461 ft. (2,579 m.)
Lowest Point	Atlantic Ocean - sea level
Neighbours	Angola (N), Botswana (E), South Africa (SE)
Life Expectancy	59 years (1995), total population: 40.62 years, male: 42.48 years, female: 38.71 years (2001 est.) total population: 42.77 years, male: 44.27 years, female: 41.22 years (2003 est.) total population: 43.93 years male: 44.71 years female: 43.13 years (2005 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 68.44 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births 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.)
HIV/AIDS	adult prevalence rate: 22.5% (2001 est.) 21.3% (2003 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 230,000 (2001 est.) 210,000 (2001 est.) deaths: 13,000 (2001 est.) 16,000 (2003 est.) IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Namibia - Updated: Oct 2005 Population: 1.8 million HIV Prevalence Rate (%) December 2003: 21.3 No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 350,000 No. Of People in need of ART: 58,000 No. Of People Currently On ART (August 2005): 18,000 No. Of People on ART Public Sector: 14,000 No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: 4,000 No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (End 2005): 43,000 Front Line Drug Regimen: Zidovudine+Lamivudine+Levirapine HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 31 Global Fund 2 Year Approved HIV/AIDS Funding: US$26,082,802.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$7,220,642.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): NIL Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: US$35,689,788.00 Source: UNAIDS, Ministry of Health NAC, The Global Fund, The World Bank, US State Department
Adult Literacy Rate	total population: 38%, male: 45%, female: 31% (1960 est.), 37% (1985) total population: 84%, male: 84.4%, female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups	White 6%, Mixed 6.5%. Black/indigenous 87.5%, include Ovambo 50%, Kavango 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Languages	English 7% (official), Afrikaans 60% (common), German 32%, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama.
Religions	Traditional Religion (Animist) 10-20% survive in the North, 80-90% belong to recognised Christian Churches, about 50% are members of the Lutheran Churches.
Type of Government	Republic
President	Hifikepunye Pohamba (since 15 November 2004 [25/10/2005])
Prime Minister	Nahas Aangula (since 21 March 2005 [25/10/2005])
Political Parties	Congress of Democrats (COD); Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia (DTA); Monitor Action Group (MAG); South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)]; United Democratic Front (UDF).
Ruling Party	South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO)
Currency	Namibian Dollar (N$, NAD)(100 cents) and South African rand (ZAR) Namibian dollars per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)
GDP	US$1,481 (1992) US$3,033m (1995) GDP: US$4.7 billion (2003) purchasing power parity - US$14.76 billion (2004 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$7,300 (2004 est.)
GNP	US$1,980 (1992) US$2,000 (1995)
Per Capita Income	Per capita GNI: US$1,870 (2003) GDP per head: US$2,250
Population Below Poverty Line	50% (2002 est.)
Land Use	arable land: 0.99% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.01% (2001) Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources	diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Oil and Natural Gas	Oil production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001) Natural gas - proved reserves: 31.15 billion cu m (January 2002 est.)
Military	Military branches: National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 459,474 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 441,293 (2005 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$73.1 million, 2.4% of GDP (FY02) US$168.4 million, 3.1% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received	US$160 million ODA (2000 est.) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$98 (1999), US$81 (2000), US$57 (2001), US$68 (2002), US$73 (2003)
Debt	Less indebted US$471m (1995) US$217m (2000 est.) US$517 million (2002 est.) US$1.136 billion (2004 est.)
Major Imports	foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals foodstuffs, construction material, manufactured goods (2002)
Imports from	US 50%, EU 31% (2001) US$1.7 billion (2002) US$1.473 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Major Exports	diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins diamonds, copper, lead, uranium, beef, cattle, fish, karakul pelts (2002)
Exports to	EU 79%, US 4% (2001) US$1.3 billion (2002) US$1.356 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 25 October, 2005

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