Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Angola and
South Africa
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
825,418 sq km
land area:
825,418 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 3,824 km, Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855
km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:
1,572 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint
with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with
South Africa over Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands has been resolved
and these territories were transferred to Namibian sovereignty on 1
March 1994
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,
salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural
gas, coal, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
64%
forest and woodland:
22%
other:
13%
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
very limited natural water resources; desertification
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
@Namibia, People
Population:
1,595,567 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.45% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
43.4 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
61.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
61.65 years
male:
58.97 years
female:
64.4 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.4 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Namibian(s)
adjective:
Namibian
Ethnic divisions:
black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
note:
about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the
Kavangos tribe
Religions:
Christian
Languages:
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the
population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
total population:
38%
male:
45%
female:
31%
Labor force:
500,000
by occupation:
agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government
7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
@Namibia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Namibia
conventional short form:
Namibia
Digraph:
WA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Windhoek
Administrative divisions:
13 districts; Erango, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Liambezi,
Ohanguena, Okarango, Omaheke, Omusat, 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); election last held 16
February 1990 (next to be held March 1995); results - Sam NUJOMA was
elected president by the Constituent Assembly (now the National
Assembly)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature
National Council:
elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by
December 1998); seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1
National Assembly:
elections last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held by November
1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO
41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; DTA of
Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake
MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Action
Christian National (ACN), Kosie PRETORIUS; National Patriotic Front
(NPF), Moses KATJIUONGUA; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans
DIERGAARDT; Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii RUKORO
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH
chancery:
1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 986-0540
FAX:
(202) 986-0443
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard F. JETER
embassy:
Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
mailing address:
P. O. Box 9890, Windhoek 9000
telephone:
[264] (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680
FAX:
[264] (61) 229-792
Flag:
a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left
section, and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right
section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is
contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
@Namibia, Economy
Overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and
process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP.
Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa
and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond
deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary
source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large
quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. More than half
the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence
agriculture) for its livelihood.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.85 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
$2,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17.9% (1992) in urban area
Unemployment rate:
30% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$941 million
expenditures:
$1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million
(FY93/94)
Exports:
$1.289 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish,
karakul skins
partners:
Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan
Imports:
$1.178 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
partners:
South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland
External debt:
about $220 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 4.9% (1991); accounts for 35% of GDP, including mining
Electricity:
capacity:
490,000 kW
production:
1.29 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
850 kWh (1991)
Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead,
zinc, diamond, uranium)
Agriculture:
accounts for 15% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising
major source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish
catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled,
1988 catch reaching only 384,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in
food
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $47.2 million
Currency:
1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.4096 (January 1994), 3.2678
(1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Namibia, Communications
Railroads:
2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
total:
54,500 km
paved:
4,080 km
unpaved:
gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)
Ports:
Luderitz; Walvis Bay
Airports:
total:
136
usable:
109
with permanent-surface runways:
21
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
64
Telecommunications:
good urban, fair rural services; radio relay connects major towns,
wires extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones; broadcast
stations - 4 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV
@Namibia, Defense Forces
Branches:
National Defense Force (Army), Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 336,145; fit for military service 199,337
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY92)
@Nauru, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Micronesia, 500 km north-northeast of Papua New Guinea
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
21 sq km
land area:
21 sq km
comparative area:
about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
30 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain:
sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with
phosphate plateau in center
Natural resources:
phosphates
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
limited water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater;
phosphate mining threatens limited remaining land resources
natural hazards:
rainfall is erratic
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping; signed, but
not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note:
Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific
Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea
in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
@Nauru, People
Population:
10,019 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
18.03 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
66.68 years
male:
64.3 years
female:
69.18 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.08 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nauruan(s)
adjective:
Nauruan
Ethnic divisions:
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religions:
Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Languages:
Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely
understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial
purposes
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
by occupation:
NA
@Nauru, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Nauru
conventional short form:
Nauru
former:
Pleasant Island
Digraph:
NR
Type:
republic
Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Administrative divisions:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada,
Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:
31 January 1968 (from UN trusteeship under Australia, New Zealand, and
UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution:
29 January 1968
Legal system:
own Acts of Parliament and British common law
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 12 December 1989); election last
held 19 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results -
Bernard DOWIYOGO elected by Parliament
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president from the parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament:
elections last held on 14 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total) independents
18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
consulate(s):
Agana (Guam)
US diplomatic representation:
the US Ambassador to Australia is accredited to Nauru
Flag:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a
large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the
star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the
yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of
Nauru
@Nauru, Economy
Overview:
Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are
expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given
Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World -
$10,000 annually. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must
be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation
of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are
serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income
are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $90 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$10,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
0%
Budget:
revenues:
$69.7 million
expenditures:
$51.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)
Exports:
$93 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
phosphates
partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$73 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
partners:
Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
External debt:
$33.3 million
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
14,000 kW
production:
50 million kWh
consumption per capita:
5,430 kWh (1990)
Industries:
phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
Agriculture:
coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost completely
dependent on imports for food and water
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704
(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Nauru, Communications
Railroads:
3.9 km; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to
processing facilities on the southwest coast
Highways:
total:
27 km
paved:
21 km
unpaved:
improved earth 6 km
Ports:
Nauru
Merchant marine:
1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,426 GRT/5,750 DWT
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
adequate local and international radio communications provided via
Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones; 4,000 radios; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Nauru, Defense Forces
Branches:
Directorate of the Nauru Police Force
note:
no regular armed forces
Defense expenditures:
$NA - no formal defense structure
@Navassa Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Navassa Island, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, in the Caribbean Sea, 160 km south of the US Naval Base at
Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), between Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
5.2 sq km
land area:
5.2 sq km
comparative area:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Haiti
Climate:
marine, tropical
Terrain:
raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by
vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
Natural resources:
guano
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
10%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
90%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat
herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
@Navassa Island, People
Population:
uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the
island
@Navassa Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Navassa Island
Digraph:
BQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
@Navassa Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Navassa Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
@Navassa Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Nepal, Geography
Location:
Southern Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
140,800 sq km
land area:
136,800 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical
summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:
Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region,
rugged Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty, small
deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
33%
other:
37%
Irrigated land:
9,430 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to
expand agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution (use of contaminated
water presents human health risks)
natural hazards:
vulnerable to severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and
famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer
monsoons
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban,
Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight
of world's 10 highest peaks
@Nepal, People
Population:
21,041,527 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.44% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
37.63 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
13.28 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
83.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
52.53 years
male:
52.35 years
female:
52.73 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Nepalese
Ethnic divisions:
Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais,
Limbus, Sherpas
Religions:
Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
note:
only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction
between many Hindu and Buddhist groups
Languages:
Nepali (official), 20 languages divided into numerous dialects
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
26%
male:
38%
female:
13%
Labor force:
8.5 million (1991 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%
note:
severe lack of skilled labor
@Nepal, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form:
Nepal
Digraph:
NP
Type:
parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
Capital:
Kathmandu
Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri,
Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani,
Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
National holiday:
Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
Constitution:
9 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
head of government:
Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 29 May 1991)
chief of state:
King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King
24 February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah
Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
National Council:
consists of a 60-member body, 50 appointed by House of Representatives
and 10 by the King
House of Representatives:
elections last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results
- NCP 38%, CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa 5%, Terai
Rights Sadbhavana Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%,
independents 4%, other 7%; seats - (205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69,
UPF 9, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 6, NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN
(Democratic) 2, NDP/Thapa 1, independents 3; note - the new
Constitution of 9 November 1990 gave Nepal a multiparty democracy
system for the first time in 32 years
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
Political parties and leaders:
Nepali Congress Party (NCP), president Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, Prime
Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Supreme Leader Ganesh Man SINGH; The
Conservative National Democratic Party (NDP/Thapa), Surya Bahadur
THAPA; Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML),
Man Mohan ADHIKARI; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra
Narayan SINGH; United People's Front (UPF), Lila Mani POKHREL; Nepal
Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE; National
Democratic Party/Chand (NDP/Chand), Lokendra Bahadur CHAND; Rohit
Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE; Communist Party of Nepal
(Democratic-Manandhar), B. B. MANANDHAR
Other political or pressure groups:
numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several
small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
Member of:
AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 667-4550
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Sandra VOGELGESANG
embassy:
Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[977] (1) 411179 or 412718, 411613, 413890
FAX:
[977] (1) 419963
Flag:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping
right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized
moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
@Nepal, Economy