| Economy - overview: | The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fish production led growth in 2003-05. |
| GDP - per capita | $7,800 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate (%) | 4.2% (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish |
| GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 9.3%, industry: 27.8%, services: 62.9% (2005 est.) |
| Industries | meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper) |
| Economic aid - recipient | ODA $160 million (2000 est.) |
| Debt - external | $1.164 billion (2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line (%) | 50% (2002 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.) |
Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
