Demographics of Namibia

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Namibia, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Population

Demographics of Namibia, Data of FAO, year 2005; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

Population density in Namibia by regions (census 2011)

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in Namibia is not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. ^[6]

Life expectancy at birth

Life expectancy from 1950 to 2015 (UN World Population Prospects)^[9]:

Period	Life expectancy in Years
1950–1955	41.75
1955–1960	45.27
1960–1965	48.43
1965–1970	51.20
1970–1975	53.52
1975–1980	56.63
1980–1985	58.34
1985–1990	60.67
1990–1995	61.52
1995–2000	58.11
2000–2005	53.83
2005–2010	54.98
2010–2015	61.75

Ethnic groups

Namibians are of diverse ethnic origins. The principal groups are the Ovambo, Kavango, Herero/Himba, Damara, mixed race (Coloured and Rehoboth Baster), White Namibians (Afrikaner, German, British and Portuguese), Nama, Caprivian (Lozi), San, and Tswana. The Coloureds and Basters share similar genealogical origins and cultural attributes (such as home language) but nonetheless maintain distinctly separate communal identities, as do most white Namibians and black Namibians, respectively.

The Ovambo make up about half of Namibia's people. The Ovambo, Kavango, and East Caprivian peoples, who occupy the relatively well-watered and wooded northern part of the country, are settled farmers and herders. Historically, they have shown little interest in the central and southern parts of Namibia, where conditions do not suit their traditional way of life.

Until the early 20th century, these tribes had little contact with the Nama, Damara, and Herero, who settled around the central part of the country vying for control of sparse pastureland. German colonial rule destroyed the warmaking ability of the tribes but did not erase their identities or traditional organization. People from the more populous north have settled throughout the country in recent decades as a result of urbanization, industrialization, and the demand for labor.

The minority white population is primarily of South African, British, and German descent, with a few Portuguese. About 60% of the whites speak Afrikaans (a language derived from the 17th century Dutch), 32% speak German, and 7% speak English.

Languages

• Oshiwambo languages 48.9%^[10]
• Nama/Damara 11.3%
• Afrikaans 10.4%
• Otjiherero 8.6%
• Kavango 8.5%
• Caprivi 4.8%
• English (official) 3.4%
• Other African languages 2.3%
• Other 1.7%

A smoking Nama woman

Distribution of Oshiwambo

Distribution of Khoekhoe (also known as Nama or Damara

Distribution of Afrikaans

Distribution of Otjiherero

Distribution of Kavango languages

Distribution of Caprivi languages

Religion

Missionary work during the 19th century drew many Namibians to Christianity, especially Lutheranism. While most Namibian Christians are Lutheran, there also are Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, African Methodist Episcopal, and Dutch Reformed Christians represented.

• Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran)^[10]
• Indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Modern education and medical care have been extended in varying degrees to most rural areas in recent years. The literacy rate of Africans is generally low except in sections where missionary and government education efforts have been concentrated, such as Ovamboland. The Africans speak various indigenous languages.

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook,^[11] unless otherwise indicated.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Demographics of Namibia.

• Namibian People