Population and Demographics

Namibia is among the three sovereign countries with the lowest population density. Namibians are of diverse ethnic origins, the principal groups being:

• Ovambo (50%)
• Kavango (9%)
• Herero/Himba (7%)
• Damara (7%)
• Nama (5%)
• Caprivian (Lozi) (4%)
• Bushmen (San) (3%)
• Tswana (0.5%)
• mixed race (Coloured and Rehoboth Baster) (8%)
• white (Afrikaner, German, and Portuguese) (8%)

The majority of the Namibian population is black African - mostly of the Ovambo tribe, which forms about half of the population - and concentrated in the north of the country. 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.

In addition to the black Bantu majority, there are large groups of Khoisan (e.g. Nama and Bushmen), who are descendants of the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. Khoisan differ significantly in appearance from both Bantu and White Africans. Blacks of other Bantu descent are descendants of refugees from Angola. There are also two smaller groups of people with mixed racial origins, called "Coloureds" and "Basters", who together make up 8% (with the Coloureds outnumbering the Basters two to one).

Whites of Dutch, German, British, French and Portuguese ancestry make up about 12% of the population - which is the second largest proportion in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa. Most of Namibian whites and nearly all those of mixed race are Afrikaans speakers and share similar origins, culture, religion and genealogy as the white and coloured populations of neighbouring South Africa. A smaller proportion of whites (around 130,000) trace their family origins directly back to German settlers and maintain German cultural and educational institutions.

Missionary work during the 1800s drew many Namibians to Christianity. While most Namibian Christians are Lutheran, there also are Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, African Methodist Episcopal, and Dutch Reformed Christians represented.

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.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 1,927,447
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346)
  • 15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549)
  • 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486)
• Population Growth Rate: 1.49%
• Birth Rate: 34.1 births/1,000 population
• Death rate: 19.17 deaths/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 68.44 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 42.77 years
  • Male: 44.27 years
  • Female: 41.22 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 4.71 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 22.5%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 230,000
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Black 84%
  • White 8%
  • Mixed 8%
• Religions
  • Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran)
  • Indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 84%
  • Male: 84.4%
  • Female: 83.7%