^{Institute for Public Policy Research}  

Development is best promoted through free and critical debate informed by quality research

^{About Namibia}

^{Namibia is situated on the south western corner of Africa and covers an area of approximately 824,000 km2. It achieved independence on 21 March 1990 after more than a century of first German and then South African rule. Results from the latest population census conducted in 2001 puts the total population at 1.8 million people.}

^{Namibia's current President, His Excellency Honourable Hifikepunye Pohamba.Namibia's Constitution enshrines fundamental human rights and freedoms including the right to own property, a fair trial, and free speech. Four national elections have been held in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004. The Constitution has been changed once to allow President Nujoma to stand for a third term of five years. Following the 2004 elections, SWAPO held 55 of the 72 seats in Parliament with the Congress of Democrats (5 seats), the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (4 seats), the National Unity Democractic Organisation (3 seats), the United Democratic Front (3 seats), the Republican Pary (1 seat) and the Monitor Action Group (1 seat) holding the rest.}

Namibia has three tiers of government: national, regional and local. The country is divided into thirteen administrative regions. At the time of the 2001 Census, an estimated 43% of the total population lived in the Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions in the north of the country.

^{Between 1994 and 2002 the Namibian economy grew by an average of 3.4% a year. In 2002 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at N$30.1 billion (US$4.6 billion) implying an average income of around N$15,751 (US$2,413) per person. This places Namibia in the lower middle income group of countries according to the World Bank. However, the most recent estimate of income distribution made using data from 2003/04 showed Namibia to have one of the most skewed in the world with a Gini coefficient of 0.604.}

^{Namibia's economy relies heavily on international trade with imports and exports each totalling more than half of GDP in value. Major exports include beef, meat products, diamonds, uranium, a wide variety of fish products, and beer. Namibia is the world's fifth largest diamond producer by value and is a leader in the field of offshore diamond mining. The country also has a significant tourism industry based around its magnificent wildlife and landscapes.}

^{Namibia is a member of the Common Monetary Area (CMA) with South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. This means that Namibia's monetary system is closely linked to that of South Africa, an economy some forty times larger. Namibia's currency, the Namibia dollar (NAD), circulates on par with the South African Rand (ZAR) which is also legal tender. With certain exceptions, money flows freely between the two economies and common exchange controls are maintained with the rest of the world.}

^{Namibia also belongs to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) with South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana. Goods and services can be traded freely within this area and a common external tariff applies to imports from outside.}

^{Namibia is also a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) as well as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.}

^{Key indicators}

© IPPR 2007

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