{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 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 became 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 gained independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. "
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "22 00 S, 17 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "824,292 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "823,290 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "1,002 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "4,220 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "1,572 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "1,141 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish; note - suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "47.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "8.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "44% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "80 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major rivers (by length in km)": {
      "text": "Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km<br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)<br>Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)<br>Internal <em>(endorheic basin) </em>drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)"
    },
    "Major aquifers": {
      "text": "Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "prolonged periods of drought"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip; Namib-Naukluft National Park (49,768 sq km), is the largest game park in Africa and one of the largest in the world"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "2,777,232 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Namibian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Namibian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 and to 3 in 2022 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.</p> <p>The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.</p> <p>Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "34.38% (male 482,432/female 472,474)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "61.68% (male 834,001/female 878,865)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "3.94% (2023 est.) (male 46,235/female 63,225)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "67.3"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "60.6"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "6.7"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "14.8 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "21.8 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "21.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "22.6 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "1.8% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "24.68 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "6.64 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "54.9% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.95 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.73 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "21.6 years (2013 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "215 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "28.49 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "30.52 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "67.04 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "65 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "69.14 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.94 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.45 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "56.1% (2013)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 98.9% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 83.2% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 91.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 1.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 16.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 8.6% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "8.9% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "0.59 physicians/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.7 beds/1,000 population"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 70.6% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 23.6% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 48.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 29.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 76.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 51.9% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "high (2023)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "malaria"
      },
      "water contact diseases": {
        "text": "schistosomiasis"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "17.2% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "15.1% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "24.2% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "6% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "13.2% (2013)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "33.3% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "9.6% of GDP (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "92.3%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "90.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "92.3% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "40.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "39.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "41.7% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "47.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "8.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "44% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "54.9% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Food insecurity": {
      "severe localized food insecurity": {
        "text": "<em><em>due to localized shortfalls in cereal production and </em></em><em>rising food prices </em><em>-</em> cereal production increased in 2022 and this is expected to have a positive impact on food security, however, rising prices of basic foods is likely to limit a more substantial improvement (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.47% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "22.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "4.23 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "10.4 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "256,729 tons (1993 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "11,553 tons (2005 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "4.5% (2005 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major rivers (by length in km)": {
      "text": "Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km<br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)<br>Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)<br>Internal <em>(endorheic basin) </em>drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)"
    },
    "Major aquifers": {
      "text": "Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "70 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "201 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "39.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Namibia"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Namibia"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Namibia"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Namibia"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name \"namib\" means \"vast place\" in the Nama/Damara language"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Windhoek"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "22 34 S, 17 05 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "may derive from the Afrikaans word \"wind-hoek\" meaning \"windy corner\""
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 21 March (1990)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "initiated by the Cabinet; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed; amended 1998, 2010, 2014"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<p><em>2019:</em> Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (Independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 2.7%, Apius AUCHAB (UDF) 2.7%, Esther MUINJANGUE (NUDO) 1.5%, other 2%</p> <p><em>2014:</em> Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0%</p> (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of:<br>National Council (42 seats); members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly<br>National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed list, proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 25 November 2020 (next to be held on 25 November 2025)<br>National Assembly - last held on 27 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<p>National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 28, LPM 6,IPC 2, PDM 2, UDF 2, NUDO 1,  independent 1; composition as of July 2022 - men 36, women 6, percent of women 14.3%<br><br>National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 65.5%, PDM 16.6%, LPM 4.7%, NUDO 1.9%, APP 1.8%, UDF 1.8%, RP 1.8%, NEFF 1.7%, RDP 1.1%, CDV .7%, SWANU .6%, other 1.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 63, PDM 16, LPM 4, NUDO 2, APP 2, UDF 2, RP 2, NEFF 2, RDP 1, CDV 1, SWANU 1; composition as of July 2022 - men 58, women 46, percent of women 44.2%; note - overall percent of women in Parliament 35.6%</p>"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "All People's Party or APP [Vacant]<br>Christian Democratic Voice or CDV [Gothard KANDUME]<br>Landless People's Movement or LPM [Bernadus SWARTBOOI]<br>National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Estes MUINJANGUE]<br>Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF [Epafras MUKWIILONGO]<br>Popular Democratic Movement or PDM [McHenry VENAANI] (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance or DTA) <br>Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mike KAVEKOTORA]<br>Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]<br>South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Charles KATJIVIRUE]<br>South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB]<br>United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB]<br>United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Margaret Natalie MENSAH-WILLIAMS (since 18 January 2021)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 986-0540"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 986-0443"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@namibiaembassyusa.org<br><br>https://namibiaembassyusa.org/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Jessica LONG (since 2 July 2021)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "14 Lossen Street, Windhoek"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2540"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[264] (061) 295-8500"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[264] (061) 295-8603"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ConsularWindhoek@state.gov<br><br>https://na.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Namibia, Land of the Brave\""
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Axali DOESEB"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1991"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "upper middle-income, export-driven Sub-Saharan economy; natural resource rich; Walvis Bay port expansion for trade; high potential for renewable power generation and energy independence; major nature-based tourist locale; natural resource rich; shortage of skilled labor"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$23.12 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$22.522 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$24.49 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "2.66% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-8.04% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "-0.84% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$9,100 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$9,000 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$10,000 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$12.372 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "3.62% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "2.21% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "3.72% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "BB (2019)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Ba3 (2020)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "6.7% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "26.3% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "67% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "68.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "24.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "16% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "1.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "36.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-47.5% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "beef, milk, grapes, millet, maize, mutton, pork, chickens, goats, wheat"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "1.44% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "939,000 (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "31%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "14%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "54% (2013 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "21.68% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "21.45% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "19.99% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "40.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "39.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "41.7% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "17.4% (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015": {
        "text": "59.1 (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "2.4%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "42% (2010)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$4.004 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$4.693 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2019": {
        "text": "4.64% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2018": {
        "text": "5.49% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "5.44% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "31.17% (of GDP) (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "1 April - 31 March"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$1.21 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "$270.277 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "-$222.969 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$3.955 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$3.565 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$4.581 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "China 29%, South Africa 20%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 6%, Zambia 4% (2020)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "diamonds, uranium, copper, gold, fish products, aircraft, ships (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$6.055 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$4.614 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$5.808 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "South Africa 40%, Zambia 20%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6%, China 5%, Bulgaria 3% (2020)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "copper, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, cobalt, cars (2020)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": {
        "text": "$2.764 billion (31 December 2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$2.171 billion (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$2.049 billion (31 December 2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$7.969 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$6.904 billion (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "14.779 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "16.463 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "14.449 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "13.234 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "13.313 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "population without electricity": {
        "text": "(2020) 1 million"
      },
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "55.2% (2021)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "74.7% (2021)"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "33.2% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "640,000 kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "4,065,360,000 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "119 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "3.417 billion kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "270 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "6.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "4.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "88.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "38,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "59,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "26,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "80 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "26,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "3.831 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "66,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "3.764 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "29.811 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "91,869 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "4 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "2,915,307 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "115 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the government&rsquo;s Broadband Policy aims to provide 95% population coverage by 2024; mobile network coverage has increased sharply in recent years; by 2021, 3G infrastructure provided 89% population coverage while LTE infrastructure provided 79% coverage (compared to only 40% a year earlier); despite the relatively advanced nature of the market, progress towards 5G has been slow, partly due to unsubstantiated public concerns over health implications of the technology which caused the government to order an environmental assessment of 5G in mid-2020; the government has requested the regulator to speed up its 5G development strategy; Namibia&rsquo;s internet and broadband sector is reasonably competitive, its development was for many years held back by high prices for international bandwidth caused by the lack of a direct connection to international submarine cables; this market situation improved after operators invested in diversifying terrestrial access routes to adjacent countries; by the end of 2022 Namibia is expected to be connected by a 1,050km branch line of cable running between Portugal and South Africa (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line subscribership is 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 115 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 264;&nbsp;landing points for the ACE and WACS&nbsp;fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".na"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.325 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "53% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "71,063 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "3 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "21"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "602,893 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "26.29 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "V5"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "112 (2021)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "text": "19",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)"
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "text": "93",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,628 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "48,875 km (2018)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "7,893 km (2018)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "40,982 km (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "15"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 1, other 14 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Luderitz, Walvis Bay"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Namibian Police Force has a paramilitary Special Field Force responsible for protecting borders and government installations; the Police Force is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "3% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "3% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "3.3% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "3.4% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "information varies; approximately 12,500 personnel (11,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2022)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the NDF's inventory consists of a mix of Soviet-era and some more modern systems from a variety of countries, including Brazil, China, Germany, India, and South Africa; in recent years, China has been the leading supplier; Namibia has a small defense industry that produces items such as armored personnel carriers (2023)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> as of 2018, women comprised more than 20% of the active duty military"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the NDF’s primary responsibility is external security; it has participated in UN and regional peacekeeping and security missions and provides assistance to civil authorities as needed; it is a small and professional force that participates in multinational training exercises; the Army fields a largely mobile force centered on 3 small motorized infantry brigades and a reconnaissance regiment; the Navy has a Chinese-built multipurpose offshore patrol ship equipped with a helicopter landing platform and supported by several coastal patrol vessels, while the Air Force has a small inventory of aircraft, including a few Chinese-made fighters and Soviet-era attack helicopters <br><br>the NDF was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p><em>Namibia-Angola-Botswana</em>: concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border</p> <p><em>Namibia-Botswana-Zambia-Zimbabwe</em>: Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; the Kazungula Bridge opened to traffic in May 2021</p> <p><em>Namibia-South Africa</em>: the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia claims a median line boundary, while South Africa supports the northern bank of the river</p> <p> </p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "6,296 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)"
      }
    }
  }
}