Chapter 73
Economic overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of 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. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make 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. Namibia must import some of its food.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.6% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,600 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1994)
Labor force: 500,000 by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35% in urban areas (1993 est.)
Budget: revenues: $941 million expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)
Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)
Electricity: capacity: 406,000 kW production: 1.29 billion kWh consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)
Agriculture: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, UK
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Japan
External debt: about $385 million (1994 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 2,382 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track
Highways: total: 54,186 km paved: 4,056 km unpaved: 50,130 km (1987 est.)
Ports: Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 108 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 14 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 10 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 58 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 89,722 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0
Radios: 195,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 27,000 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 377,687 males fit for military service: 224,682 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Nauru -----
Map ---
Location: 0 32 S, 166 55 E -- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Flag ----
Description: 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
Geography ---------
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total area: 21 sq km land area: 21 sq km comparative area: about 0.1 times 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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
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 natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; phosphate mining threatens limited remaining land resources natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic 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
People ------
Population: 10,273 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.33% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 18.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.68 years male: 64.3 years female: 69.18 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1996 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: NA
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island
Data code: NR
Type of government: 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 the Australia-, New Zealand-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution: 29 January 1968
Legal system: acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Lagumot HARRIS (since 22 November 1995) was elected by Parliament; election last held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1998) cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from among members of Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: election last held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total) independents 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: Nauru does not have an embassy in the US
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji 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
Economy -------
Economic 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. 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. However, dividends from the trusts have declined sharply since 1990 and the government has been borrowing from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $100 million (1993 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.6% (1993)
Labor force: by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget: revenues: $23.8 million expenditures: $69.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 14,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coconuts predominate
Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: phosphates partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
External debt: $33.3 million
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 3.9 km; note - 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: 6 km (1986 est.)
Ports: Nauru
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 2,000 (1989 est.)
Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone communications provided via Australian facilities domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 4,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1986 est.)
Televisions: NA
Defense -------
Branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Navassa Island --------------
(territory of the US)
Map ---
Location: 18 25 N, 75 02 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica
Flag ----
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica
Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W
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: 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) lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
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
Geographic 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
People ------
Population: uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island
Data code: BQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the flag of the US is used
Economy -------
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation --------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense -------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Nepal -----
Map ---
Location: 28 00 N, 84 00 E -- Southern Asia, between China and India
Flag ----
Description: 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
Geography ---------
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references: Asia
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 border countries: 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 lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower 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: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
People ------
Population: 22,094,033 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 4,776,245; female 4,563,000) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,172,821; female 5,945,626) 65 years and over: 3% (male 320,350; female 315,991) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.45% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 12.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 79 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.63 years male: 53.35 years female: 53.93 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.06 children born/woman (1996 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 other languages divided into numerous dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 27.5% male: 40.9% female: 14%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal
Data code: NP
Type of government: 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: chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 12 September 1995); note - in 1994, the king appointed Man Mohan ADHIKARI to be prime minister using the standard criterion - he was the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives following the last election; however, in September 1995, a parliamentary coalition of the Nepali Congress Party, the Rastriya Prajantra Party, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, and independents voted against Prime Minister ADHIKARI; Sher Bahadur DEUBA, the leader of the Nepali Congress Party, then formed the new government and was appointed the new prime minister by the king cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament National Council: consists of 60 members (50 appointed by House of Representatives and 10 by the king) House of Representatives: elections last held 15 November 1994 (next to be held NA); results - NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats - (205 total) CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3, independents 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADHIKARI, president; Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI (president), Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA; National Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), leader NA; Nepal Sadbhavana Party, leader NA; Rastriya Prajantra Party, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups: numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Basudev Prasad DHUNGANA chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411179 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
Economy -------
Economic overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for about one-half of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY93/94. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is undernourished. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting public expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. (In 1995 little progress was made in these areas because the communist government had trouble formulating and implementing policies.) The new coalition government is planning to pick up the pace of reforms in 1996, focusing primarily on raising revenues to develop the rural sector by increasing taxation and privatization. Prospects for foreign trade and investment, particularly in areas other than power development and tourism, will continue to remain poor because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community provides funding for 62% of Nepal's developmental budget and for 34% of total budgetary expenditures.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $25.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 49.3% industry: 18.4% services: 32.3% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (FY94/95)
Labor force: 8.5 million (1991 est.) by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2% note: severe lack of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1995)
Budget: revenues: $645 million expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production