Contents

- General Information
- Geography and Environment
- Population and HIV/AIDS
- Economy
- Communications, Information, Science and Technology
- Chronology of History

Economy [6, 7, 8, 9]

Lower middle income country (WB classification)
Less indebted country (WB classification)

Namibia's economy has a modern market sector and a traditional subsistence sector. The average GDP per capita is quite high among developing countries, but it has one of the most unequal income distributions on the African continent. The small domestic market, the favorable location and good transport and communication bases make Namibia a leading country of regional economic integration.

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Namibia is the large exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and 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. The majority of the imports originate in South Africa, and many of Namibia's exports are destined for the South African market or transit the country. But Namibia is seeking to diversify the trading relationships away from South African dependence. For example, Europe has become a leading market for fish and meat.

Namibian agriculture contributes only 13% to the country's GDP, but about 70% of the population depends on agricultural activities (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Livestock ranching and fisheries dominate the agricultural sector; cattle are predominant in the central and northern regions, while karakul sheep, goat, and ostrich farming are concentrated in the more arid southern regions. Subsistence farming is confined to communal lands in the wooden northern part of the country. Main crops are millet, sorghum, corn, and peanuts. The agricultural sector is polarized by commercial farms which are mainly in white hands, while subsistence farms are in the hands of the black population. Namibia must import food.

Namibia has rich fishing grounds. The commercial fishing sector is a fast growing part of the Namibian economy. Main species are pilchards (sardines), anchovies, hake, and horse mackerel. During the colonial period, the resource was over-exploited and fish stocks have since fallen to dangerously low levels. Since independence, the Namibian government has been pursuing a conservative resource management policy along with an aggressive fisheries enforcement campaign.

Mining is Namibia's most important economic sector. High value, gem-quality diamonds, gold, silver, copper and other minerals make Namibia a leading exporter.

The manufacturing sector is inhibited by a small domestic market, dependent upon imported goods and by a limited supply of local capital. Namibia has a well-maintained transportation network, civil aviation facilities, and a good communications infrastructure.

Although per capita GDP is three times that of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of the population live in pronounced poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.

Economy, 1999 [2]
GNP measured at purchasing power parity (PPP): US$ 9,1 billion
GNP per capita measured at PPP: US$ 5,369
GNP per capita: US$ 1,890
GNP average annual growth rate, 1998-99: 3.0%
GNP average per capita annual growth rate, 1998-99: 0.6%
GNP: US$ 3.2 billion

GDP total: US$ 2,340 (millions, 1990), US$ 3,075 (millions, 1999)
Value added as % of GDP, agriculture: 12 (1990), 13 (1999)
Value added as % of GDP, industry: 38 (1990), 33 (1999)
Value added as % of GDP, manufacturing: 14 (1990), 15 (1999)
Value added as % of GDP, services: 50 (1990), 55 (1999)

Labor force [5]
In the 1991 Census, the number of economically-active population aged 10 years and over was 420,201, out of which 239,128 were males and 181,073 females. The agriculture, hunting and forestry, and fishing sectors occupied 45% of the total economically-active population; wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles 9%; public administration, defense and social security sectors, other community and social activities, and the manufacturing sector each 6%; construction 5%. All other sectors are below the 5% margin.

More detailed information in the Tables:
Economically-active population by industry, age and sex, 1991 (CSV file or HTML)

Budget, percentage of GDP, 1990 [2]
Tax revenues: 27.4
Expenditures: 28.4
Capital expenditure: 5.1
Overall deficit/surplus: -1.2

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Trade [2]
Exports (in million US$ in 1998): of commercial services 315, merchandise 1,460
Imports (in million US$ in 1998): of commercial services 449, merchandise 1,680

Export commodities: Diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Import commodities: Foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Official development assistance [2]
US$ 90 per capita and 5.1% of GDP in 1990;
US$ 108 per capita and 5.8% of GDP in 1998

Currency: 1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Namibian dollars (N$) per US$1: 5,98380 (January 1999), 5,52828 (1998), 4,60796 (1997), 4,29935 (1996), 3,62709 (1995), 3,55080 (1994)

Energy use and emission [2]
Electricity production: NA
Electricity, production by source:
fossil fuel: NA
hydronuclear: NA
other: NA
Commercial energy use: NA

Agriculture [2]
13% of GDP in 1999
Products: Millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock, beef, karakul, pelts, wool, fish
Tractors per 1,000 agr. workers: 10 (1979-81), 11 (1996-98)
Productivity, agr. value added per agr. worker 1995 US$: 862 (1979-80), 1,233 (1996-98)
Food production index: 107.4 (1979-81 ), 123.5 (1996-98)

Land use, percentage of land area (1998, in 1,000 hectares) [1]:
Land area (excluding inland water bodies): 82,329
Agricultural area: 38,820 (47%)
Arable land: 816 (1% ), per capita 0.47 hectares (based on medium variant projection of 1,722,900 [3])
Permanent crops: 4 (almost 0%)
Permanent pastures: 38,000 (47%) (mainly cattle)
Forests and woodland: 12,500 (15%) (note: data from 1994, since 1995 FAO lists this category with 0 hectares)
Other: 31,009 (38%)
Irrigated land: 7

Livestock statistics, 1996 in heads (1,000) [4]:
cattle 2,063; goats 1,650; sheep 2,100; asses and mules 74.5; horses 62; chickens 2,300; and pigs 17

Sources:
[1] FAOSTAT. 2000. Land Use Table. Update December 2000. http://faostat.fao.org/default.htm

[2] The World Bank. 2000. World Development Report 2000/2001. Attacking Poverty. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. The complete report is available on-line:http://worldbank.org/poverty/wdrpoverty/report/

[3] Namibia, Rep. of. 2000. 2nd Development Plan. Windhoek: National Planning Commission. (electronic datafiles)

[4] FAOSTAT. 2000. Livestocks Stocks Table. Update December 2000. http://faostat.fao.org/default.htm

[5] Republic of Namibia. 1991. 1991 Population and Housing Census. Report B, Statistical Tables, Volume II. Windhoek, Namibia: National Planning Commission, Central Statistics Office

[6] CIA. The World Factbook, Namibia, http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/wa.html

[7] U.S. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs. Background Notes. Namibia, http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/bgnotes/af/namibia9504.html

[8] The official Web site of the Republic of Namiba, http://www.grnnet.gov.na/intro.htm

[9] iafrica.com. Namiba, http://africa.iafrica.com/countryinfo/namibia/

- General Information
- Geography and Environment
- Population and HIV/AIDS
- Economy
- Communications, Information, and Science and Technology
- Chronology of History