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Introduction:
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 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. Independence came in 1990.Namibia Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq kmArea - comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South
Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast;
Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Konigstein 2,606 mNatural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead,
tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower,
fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Population: 1,797,677Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most
of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, NamaCountry name: Conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Conventional short form: Namibia
Former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type: republicCapital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap,
Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke,
Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, OtjozondjupaIndependence: 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 constitutionFlag description: 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
Namibia Economy: Economy - overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is four times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of large-scale unemployment, the great inequality of income distribution, and the large amount of wealth going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa. GDP growth in 2000 was led by gains in the diamond and fish sectors. Agreement has been reached on the privatization of several more enterprises in coming years, which should stimulate long-run foreign investment. Growth in 2001 could be 5.5% provided the world economy remains stable.
Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
