Namibia's population now beyond three million people

The population of Namibia has grown to just over three million inhabitants in the last twelve years, according to preliminary census results released on 13 March 2024.

Since the last census in 2011, the population has grown from 2.3 million people by 909,324 to 3,022,401 inhabitants within twelve years. That's an average growth of three percent per annum.

The population has since independence in 1990 almost doubled. The population density is 3.7 people per square kilometre. The census took place in September 2023.

Around 71.1 percent of the population are people under 35 years of age, and only 6.8 percent of the population is over sixty years old, according to the report..

“The population in urban areas is 1,494,992 people and only a slight majority, 1,527,409 (2.1 percent more) people live in rural areas,” according to the NSA.

A total of 756,339 households were counted, with an average nationwide household size of 3.8 people (2011: 4.4 people).

Women make up a larger proportion of the population, as has been the case in the last four censuses. On the census date, 1,548,177 women (51.2%) and 1,474,224 men (48.8%) were recorded.

The Khomas region remains the most populous region with 494,729 people (2011: 342,141) which grew by 44.6 percent, followed by the Ohangwena with 337,729 people (2011: 245,446) and Omusati with 316,671 people (2011: 243,116).

As a UN member, Namibia adheres to the recommendation to carry out a census every ten years. It was originally scheduled to take place in 2021, but was postponed due to Covid-19.

Brigitte Weidlich