Population Development in Namibia

Abstract

Population censuses have been carried out in South West Africa since 1921 and thereafter at intervals of about 10 years, but their reliability has not been tested. In some cases it is also rather questionable to give these calculations the name of census. For the period prior to 1921 only estimates of population numbers are available and, based on estimates in South West Africa Annual Report, it was supposed that 223 665 people were living in South West Africa in 1921. Based on census figures for 1936 the population was 320 457 (Report of the Commission, 1964: 37). According to the 1946 census the population was estimated to be 350 037 (Population Registration and Census, SWAA 2550, A 621/2, NAN). On the other hand, the Secretary for South West Africa stated that the population figures for the territory for the years 1946 and 1951, respectively, were 360 040 and 414 601 (Secretary for South West Africa to the Director of Tiger Cats Co. Ltd, 25 November 1958, SWAA 273 A 29/1, NAN). Based on census figures for 1960, 526 004 people were living in the area (Report of the Commission, 1964: 37). The growth rate of population was supposed to be approximately 2 per cent per year during the 1940s and 1950s. The largest ethnic group were the Ovambos. In 1960 the proportion of Ovambos was estimated to be about 45–46 per cent.