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Namibia |
Capital: Windhoek
Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Background: South Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II when it annexed the territory. In 1988 South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990. The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia imports some of its food. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.
PEOPLE
Population: 2,055,080 (2007); 2,128,471 (2010)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 43.11 years
Male: 44.39 years
Female: 41.79 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 51.95 years
Male: 52.25 years
Female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 390,448/female 383,698)
15-64 years: 58.6% (male 606,239/female 597,512)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 34,926/female 42,257) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 381,904/female 375,059)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 641,995/female 627,146)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 36,894/female 45,667) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.478% (2007 est.); 0.909% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: The UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 19.6% (2006 est.); 15.3% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 230,000 (2006 est.); 200,000 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 85%
Male: 86.8%
Female: 83.5% (2001 census)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 11,900 (Angola) (2006)
Refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2006 est.); 51.2% (2008 est.)
Labour force by Occupation: agriculture: 47%; industry: 20%; services: 33% (1999 est.)
Agricultural Products: millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Exports - Commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - Partners:
South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2006)
Imports - Commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - Partners:
South Africa 85.2%, US (2006)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Source: CIA World Factbook
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