South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as its mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) through its People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named 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 won its independence in 1990 and has since then been governed by the SWAPO through a semi-presidential government. Namibia is a multi-party state and elections are held every five years.

The government is divided into the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary organs. The Parliament, the National Council and the National Assembly are all situated in the capital of Windhoek. Dr. Sam Nujoma was elected the first president of the free Namibia, becoming both head of State and government, and led the country during its first 14 years of self-rule. In 2004 Mr. Hifikepunye Pohamba succeeded Nujoma in a landslide victory. Current president Dr. Hage Geingob was sworn in in 2015, along with Nambias first female Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelva-Amadhila.

Short Facts

Capital                                                                                   Windhoek
Area                                                                                   825 418 km2
Population 2,347,988 (2015 est.)
Languages    English (official), Oshiwambo, Herero, Afrikaans, Khoekhoe, German and others
Currency Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Calling Code +264

 

Health & Education                                              
Life expectancy                                                                   65 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate 1.9 (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate (under 1 year) 36.4 deaths/ 1.000 live births (2016 est.)
Fertility rate 3.1 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Ability to read and write, grown up over 15 years Male 79.2%/ Female 84.5% (2015 est.)

 

Economy                                                
Agriculture products Millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes, livestock, fish
GDP per capita USD 5.693 (2013)
GDP composition by sector

Agriculture: 6.2%, Industry: 30.0%, Services: 63.8% (2015)

Income frome exports, compostion by sector            52% minerals (70% diamonds) 25% fish and fish products, 13% live animals, meat and animal products.
Industries Meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining; zink, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper.
Inflation 5.2% (2014)
Exports-commodities

Diamonds, copper, gold, zink, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Unemployment rate 28.1% (2014)
 
 
Politics & Religion                                                 
Independence Day March 21 1990                                  German colony until 1914, thereafter occupied by South Africa
Political system Republic, semi-presidential, multi-party system, elections are held every five years 
Presidents Hage Geingob (SWAPO) 2015-present, H. Pohamba (SWAPO), 2004-2015), Sam Nujoma (SWAPO), 1990-2004.
Prime Ministers

Saara Kuungongelva-Amadhila (SWAPO) 2015-present, Hage Geingob (SWAPO) 2012-2015, Nahas Angula (SWAPO) 2005-2012,

Theo-Ben Gurirab (SWAPO) 2002-2005, Hage Geingob (SWAPO) 1990-2002 

Females in the parliament 28.3% (2014)
Religions Christians 80% - 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), Indigenous beliefs 10% - 20%