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namibiamore about namibia

namibia


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Namibia 
  n  :  a  country  in  southwestern  Africa  (formerly  called  South  West 
  Africa);  the  greater  part  of  Namibia  form  part  of  the 
  high  plateau  of  South  Africa  [syn:  {Namibia}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Namibia 
 
  Namibia:Geography 
 
  Location:  Southern  Africa,  bordering  the  South  Atlantic  Ocean,  between 
  Angola  and  South  Africa 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  825,418  sq  km 
  land  area:  825,418  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  more  than  half  the  size  of  Alaska 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  3,824  km  Angola  1,376  km  Botswana  1,360  km 
  South  Africa  855  km  Zambia  233  km 
 
  Coastline:  1,572  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  contiguous  zone:  24  nm 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  short  section  of  boundary  with  Botswana  is 
  indefinite;  quadripoint  with  Botswana,  Zambia,  and  Zimbabwe  is  in 
  disagreement;  dispute  with  Botswana  over  uninhabited  Kasikili  ( 
  Sidudu)  Island  in  Linyanti  (Chobe)  River  remained  unresolved  in 
  mid-February  1995  and  the  parties  agreed  to  refer  the  matter  to  the 
  International  Court  of  Justice; 
 
  Climate:  desert;  hot,  dry;  rainfall  sparse  and  erratic 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  high  plateau;  Namib  Desert  along  coast;  Kalahari 
  Desert  in  east 
 
  Natural  resources:  diamonds,  copper,  uranium,  gold,  lead,  tin, 
  lithium,  cadmium,  zinc,  salt,  vanadium,  natural  gas,  fish;  suspected 
  deposits  of  oil,  natural  gas,  coal,  iron  ore 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  1% 
  permanent  crops:  0% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  64% 
  forest  and  woodland:  22% 
  other:  13% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  40  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  very  limited  natural  fresh  water  resources; 
  desertification 
  natural  hazards:  prolonged  periods  of  drought 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Endangered  Species,  Law  of  the 
  Sea,  Ozone  Layer  Protection;  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Biodiversity, 
  Climate  Change 
 
  Namibia:People 
 
  Population:  1,651,545  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  47%  (female  384,885;  male  394,216) 
  15-64  years:  50%  (female  414,283;  male  405,938) 
  65  years  and  over:  3%  (female  26,783;  male  25,440)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  3.44%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  43.04  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  8.61  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  0  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  59.8  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  62.1  years 
  male:  59.37  years 
  female:  64.9  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  6.34  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Namibian(s) 
  adjective:  Namibian 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  black  86%,  white  6.6%,  mixed  7.4% 
  note:  about  50%  of  the  population  belong  to  the  Ovambo  tribe  and  9%  to 
  the  Kavangos  tribe;  other  ethnic  groups  include  (with  approximate 
  share  of  total  population):  Herero  7%,  Damara  7%,  Nama  5%,  Caprivian 
  4%,  Bushmen  3%,  Baster  2%,  Tswana  0.5% 
 
  Religions:  80%-90%  Christian  (50%  Lutheran;  at  least  30%  other 
  Christian  denominations) 
 
  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 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1960) 
  total  population:  38% 
  male:  45% 
  female:  31% 
 
  Labor  force:  500,000 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  60%,  industry  and  commerce  19%,  services 
  8%,  government  7%,  mining  6%  (1981  est.) 
 
  Namibia:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Namibia 
  conventional  short  form:  Namibia 
 
  Digraph:  WA 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Windhoek 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  13  districts;  Erongo,  Hardap  Karas,  Khomas, 
  Kunene  Caprivi  (Liambezi),  Ohangwena  Okavango  Omaheke  Omusati 
  Oshana  Oshikoto  Otjozondjupa 
 
  Independence:  21  March  1990  (from  South  African  mandate) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  21  March  (1990) 
 
  Constitution:  ratified  9  February  1990;  effective  12  March  1990 
 
  Legal  system:  based  on  Roman-Dutch  law  and  1990  constitution 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Sam  NUJOMA  (since  21 
  March  1990);  election  last  held  7-8  December  1994  (next  to  be  held 
  NA);  results  -  Sam  NUJOMA  elected  president  by  popular  vote 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  the  president  from  the  National 
  Assembly 
 
  Legislative  branch:  bicameral  legislature 
  National  Council:  elections  last  held  30  November-3  December  1992 
  (next  to  be  held  by  December  1998);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party 
  NA  seats  -  (26  total)  SWAPO  19,  DTA  6,  UDF  1 
  National  Assembly:  elections  last  held  7-8  December  1994  (next  to  be 
  held  NA);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  seats  -  (72  total) 
  SWAPO  53,  DTA  15,  UDF  2,  MAG  1,  DCN  1 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  South  West  Africa  People's  Organization 
  (SWAPO),  Sam  NUJOMA  DTA  of  Namibia  (formerly  Democratic  Turnhalle 
  Alliance)  (DTA),  Mishake  MUYONGO  United  Democratic  Front  (UDF), 
  Justus  GAROEB;  Federal  Convention  of  Namibia  (FCN),  Kephics  CONRUDIE 
  Monitor  Action  Group  (MAG),  Kosie  PRETORIUS;  Workers  Revolutionary 
  Party  (WRP);  Southwest  African  National  Union  (SWANU),  Hitjevi  VEII; 
  Democratic  Coalition  of  Namibia  (DCN),  Moses  KATJIUONGA 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  NA 
 
  Member  of:  ACP,  AfDB  C,  CCC,  ECA,  FAO,  FLS,  G-77,  GATT,  IAEA,  IBRD, 
  ICAO,  ICRM,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  (associate),  ILO,  IMF,  INTELSAT 
  (nonsignatory  user),  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM  (observer),  ITU,  NAM,  OAU, 
  SACU,  SADC,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNHCR  UNIDO  UPU,  WCL,  WHO  WIPO,  WMO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Tuliameni  KALOMOH 
  chancery:  1605  New  Hampshire  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20009 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  986-0540 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  986-0443 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Marshall  F.  McCALLIE 
  embassy:  Ausplan  Building,  14  Lossen  St.,  Windhoek 
  mailing  address:  Private  Bag  12029  Ausspannplatz  Windhoek 
  telephone:  [264]  (61)  221601 
  FAX:  [264]  (61)  229792 
 
  Flag:  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 
 
  Overview:  The  economy  is  heavily  dependent  on  the  mining  industry  to 
  extract  and  process  minerals  for  export.  Mining  accounts  for  almost 
  25%  of  GDP.  Namibia  is  the  fourth-largest  exporter  of  nonfuel  minerals 
  in  Africa  and  the  world's  fifth-largest  producer  of  uranium.  Alluvial 
  diamond  deposits  are  among  the  richest  in  the  world,  making  Namibia  a 
  primary  source  for  gem-quality  diamonds.  Namibia  also  produces  large 
  quantities  of  lead,  zinc,  tin,  silver,  and  tungsten.  More  than  half 
  the  population  depends  on  agriculture  (largely  subsistence 
  agriculture)  for  its  livelihood.  Namibia  must  import  some  of  its  food. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $5.8  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  5.8%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $3,600  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  11%  (1994) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  35%  in  urban  areas  (1993  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $941  million 
  expenditures:  $1.05  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $157 
  million  (FY93/94) 
 
  Exports:  $1.3  billion  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  diamonds,  copper,  gold,  zinc,  lead,  uranium,  cattle, 
  processed  fish,  karakul  skins 
  partners:  Switzerland,  South  Africa,  Germany,  Japan 
 
  Imports:  $1.1  billion  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  foodstuffs,  petroleum  products  and  fuel,  machinery  and 
  equipment 
  partners:  South  Africa,  Germany,  US  Switzerland 
 
  External  debt:  about  $385  million  (1994  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  -14%  (1993);  accounts  for  30%  of 
  GDP,  including  mining 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  406,000  kW 
  production:  1.29  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  658  kWh  (1991) 
 
  Industries:  meat  packing,  fish  processing,  dairy  products,  mining 
  (copper,  lead,  zinc,  diamond,  uranium) 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  10%  of  GDP;  livestock  raising  major  source 
  of  cash  income;  crops  -  millet,  sorghum,  peanuts;  fish  catch  potential 
  of  over  1  million  metric  tons  not  being  fulfilled 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral 
  commitments  (1970-87),  $47.2  million 
 
  Currency:  1  South  African  rand  R  =  100  cents 
 
  Exchange  rates:  South  African  rand  R  per  US$1  -  3.539  (January 
  1995),  3.5489  (1994),  3.2678  (1993),  2.8497  (1992),  2.7653  (1991), 
  2.5863  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  1  April  -  31  March 
 
  Namibia:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  2,341  km  (single  track) 
  narrow  gauge:  2,341  km  1.067-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  54,500  km 
  paved:  4,080  km 
  unpaved:  gravel  2,540  km  earth  47,880  km  (roads  and  tracks) 
 
  Ports:  Luderitz  Walvis  Bay 
 
  Merchant  marine:  none 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  135 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  14 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  20 
  with  unpaved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  23 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  70 
 
  Namibia:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  62,800  telephones;  telephone  density  -  38/1,000 
  persons 
  local:  good  urban  services 
  intercity:  fair  rural  service;  microwave  radio  relay  links  major 
  towns;  connections  to  other  populated  places  are  by  open  wire 
  international:  NA 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  4,  FM  40,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  3 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Namibia:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  National  Defense  Force  (Army),  Police 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  348,380;  males  fit  for  military 
  service  206,684  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $54  million,  2%  of 
  GDP  (FY93/94) 
 
 
 




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