Namibia

Because of you…

There are a variety of ministries in cities and villages throughout the country. Current ministries include youth groups, school evangelism, abstinence training, Youth camps, Leadership camps, kids clubs, Discipleship groups, and follow-up ministry.

We would like to see Youth for Christ become an effective partner with the local church, and to train up young leaders in churches and schools to have an impact in our nation.

Prayer Needs

Godly wisdom and passionate leadership as we seek God’s heart for the lost youth.
Continued vibrant prayer cover for every move Youth for Christ makes in this country.
Mothers to earnestly pray with us for the youth of our nation.
Financial support to do all the ministries.
Building of positive relationships with the churches.
Continued prayers for staff.

About Namibia

Introduction

South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa 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 has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.

Geography

Location

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Geographic Coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E

Area

Total Area: 824,292 sq km Rank: 34

Land Area: 823,290 sq km

Water Area: 1,002 sq km

Comparison: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land Boundaries: 3,936 km

Bordering Countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 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

Elevations

Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Highest Point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural Resources

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

Arable land: 0.99%

Permanent Crops: 0.01%

Other: 99% (2005)

Irrigated Land: 80 sq km (2003)

Renewable Water Resources: 45.5 cu km (1991)

Total Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)

Freshwater Withdrawal Per Capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)

Environment

Natural Hazards: prolonged periods of drought

Environmental Issues: limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Environmental Agreements: Party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Geography Notes

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

People

Population: 2,108,665 Rank: 143

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Age Structure

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.)

Median Age: 21.3 years

Population Growth

Growth Rate: 0.95% (2010 est.) Rank: 132

Birth Rate: 22.51 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 84

Death Rate: 13.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Rank: 26

Net Migration Rate: 0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 68

Urbanization

Urban Population: 37% of total population (2008)

Rate of Urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Life and Death

Infant Mortality Rate: 45.51 deaths/1,000 live births Rank: 57

Life Expectancy at Birth: 51.24 years Rank: 209

Fertility Rate: 2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.) Rank: 85

Health and Disease

HIV/AIDS - Adult Prevalence Rate: 15.3% (2007 est.) Rank: 5

People living with HIV/AIDS: 200,000 (2007 est.) Rank: 31

HIV/AIDS Deaths: 5,100 (2007 est.) Rank: 43

Degree of Risk for Major Infectious Diseases: high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne disease: malaria

Water Contact Diseases: schistosomiasis (2009)

Nationality and Culture

Noun: Namibian(s)

Adjective: Namibian

Ethnic Groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%

Note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religion: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

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)

Education

Literacy (Meaning, age 15 and over can read and write): 85% Male: 86.8% Female: 83.5% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): 11 years Male: 11 years Female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures: 6.9% of GDP (2003) Rank: 26

Government

Country Name

Conventional Long Form: Republic of Namibia

Conventional Short Form: Namibia

Local Long Form: Republic of Namibia

Local Short Form: Namibia

Formerly: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Government Type: republic

Capital: Windhoek Geographic Coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E

Administrative divisions

13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of State: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

Election Results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0%, Katuutire KAURA 3.0%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9%, Justus GAROEB 2.4%, Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3%, Hendrick MUDGE 1.2%, other 1.3%

Legislative Branch

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council, primarily an advisory body, (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held on 26-27 November 2010); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)

Election Results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 75.3%, RDP 11.3% DTA 3.1%, NUDO 3.0%, UDF 2.4%, APP 1.4%, RP 0.8%, COD 0.7%, SWANU 0.6%, other 1.3%; seats by party - SWAPO 54, RDP 8 DTA 2, NUDO 2, UDF 2, APP 1 RP 1, COD 1, SWANU 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Politics

Political Parties and Leaders: All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]; Congress of Democrats or COD [Benjamin ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Hendrick MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders: Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist group); National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World Information Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)

International Organization Participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Flag Description: 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 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 yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

Economy

Economy Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about 35-40% of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides one of the world's most unequal income distributions, as shown by Namibia's GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010, Namibia drew 40% of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU allotments to Namibia increased in 2009, but will drop for 2010 and 2011. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-08, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches, higher costs of producing metals, and the global recession.

Gross Domestic Product

GDP (purchasing power parity): $13.87 billion (2009 est.) Rank: 136

GDP - real growth rate: -0.8% (2009 est.) Rank: 125

GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,600 (2009 est.) Rank: 129

GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 9.6% Industry: 34.2% Services: 56.2% (2008 est.)

Labor Force

Labor Force: 716,000 (2009 est.) Rank: 147

Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture: 16.3% Industry: 22.4% Services: 61.3% (2008 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 51.2% (2008 est.) Rank: 192

Poverty

Population below poverty line: 55.8%

Note: 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 (2005 est.)

total: 1

country comparison to the world: 157

by type: cargo 1

Transnational Issues

International Disputes: 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; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons - refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)

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