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PEOPLE

Language
English is the official language, but German and Afrikaans are also widely spoken. The six main indigenous languages are Oshivambo, Herero, Nama-Damara, Kwangali, Lozi and Tswana.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	2.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	2.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
3.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
The Ovambo make up almost half of the population (47 percent); other ethnic groups include the Kavango, Herero and Damara. There is also a European minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Lutheran 51 percent, Catholic 20 percent, Anglican 5 percent. Many people also practise traditional African religions.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	36.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	35.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	35.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	34.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	34.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	33.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	32.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	32.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1989
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
89 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	39.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	42.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	42.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	43.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	43.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
Standard Time GMT +1, Summer Time GMT +2

Climate description
Namibia is the driest country south of the Sahara, with approximately 12 percent hyper-arid, 16 percent arid, 69 percent semi-arid and 3 percent dry sub-humid. Average rainfall in Windhoek is about 360 mm. Semi-desert climate with hot days and cool nights. Central plateau temperatures are slightly lower than inland regions. Along the coast the cold Benguela current moderates the heat while causing fog and occasional rain. Two rainy seasons in the interior, one short and one long. The former Ovamboland and Caprivi in the north have the most temperate climates, highest rainfall, and are accordingly the only densely populated areas in Namibia.

Currency
Namibian dollar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 264

Driving (left/right)
Left

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	51.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	47.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	48.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	44.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	47.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	50.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	46.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	47.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	43.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	52.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	47.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	49.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	49.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	47 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	45 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	46 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	47 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	48 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	55 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	55 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	56 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	68 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	61 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	62 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	63 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	76 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	76 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	78 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	78 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	78 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	76 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	210 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	300 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	125	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	125	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	125	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	126	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	124	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	122	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	24 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	24 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	24 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	24 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	19 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	24 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	23 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	93 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	87 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	80 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	77 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	35 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	25 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	30 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Literacy - average

2004	85.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	85.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	83.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	82.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	82.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	86.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	86.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	83.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	83.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	82.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	83.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	83.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	66 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	66 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	69 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	65 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	66 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	64 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	63 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	60 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	494 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	383 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	297 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	223 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	145 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	116 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	79 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	57 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	45 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	54 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	49 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	44 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	40 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	37 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	33 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	61	Transparency International 2008
2007	57 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	55 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	77 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	54 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	41 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	28	Transparency International
2001	30	Transparency International
2000	30 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	34.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	34.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	34.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	34.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	34.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	3450 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3260 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2940 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2410 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2010 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1750 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1780 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1880 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	7.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	7.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	6.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	5.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	4.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	4.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	6.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	6.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	2.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	0.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	9.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	11.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	14.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	10.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
64.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	30 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	30 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	29 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	29 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	15.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	15.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	15.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	15.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	15.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum from November to June in Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Omaheke, Ohangwena and Otjozondjupa. Risk throughout the year along the Kunene river and in Kavango and Caprivi regions. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	767 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	787 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	808 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	817 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	809 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	776 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	726 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	671 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	985	UNHCR
2007	1128	UNHCR
2006	1203	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	1226	UNHCR
2004	1314	UNHCR
2003	1293	UNHCR
2002	1302	UNHCR
2001	2297	UNHCR
2000	2308	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	6799	UNHCR
2007	6525	UNHCR
2006	5462	UNHCR
2005	5307	UNHCR
2004	14773	UNHCR
2003	19800	UNHCR
2002	21651	UNHCR
2001	30885	UNHCR
2000	27263	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	12	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	3	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	3	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	12	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	3.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	6.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	7.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	7.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	7.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	8.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	4.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	4.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

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