White Namibians

Ethnic group in Namibia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

White Namibians (German: Weiße Namibier or Europäische Namibier) are people of European descent settled in Namibia. The majority of White Namibians are Dutch-descended Afrikaners (locally born or of White South African descent), with a minority being native-born German Namibians (descended from Germans who colonised Namibia in the late-nineteenth century). There are also some Portuguese and English immigrants. 53,773 Namibians identified as White in 2023.

Quick facts Blanke Namibiërs, Wit NamibiërsWeiße Namibier, Regions with significant populations ...
White Namibians
Blanke Namibiërs, Wit Namibiërs
Weiße Namibier
Regions with significant populations
Namibia53,773 (2023 Census)[1]
Languages
First language
Afrikaans (60%)
German (32%)
English (7%)
Portuguese (1%)
Religion
Predominantly Christian

Judaism[2]
Related ethnic groups
White South Africans, White Zimbabweans, Afrikaners, Coloureds, Basters, other White Africans
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Demographics and distribution

53,773 Namibians identified as White in the 2023 census, representing 1.8% of the population of Namibia.[1] Other estimates differ. The City of Windhoek estimates their number to be 75,000.[3]

The vast majority of White Namibians live in major cities and towns in central or southern Namibia. Windhoek has by far the largest White population, and Whites are a majority in the coastal city of Swakopmund. Other coastal cities, such as Walvis Bay, Henties bay and Lüderitz, also have large White communities. In general, most of Namibia south of Windhoek has a high proportion of Whites, while central Namibia has a high concentration of Blacks. Apart from Windhoek, coastal areas and Southern Namibia, there are large White communities in Otjiwarongo and towns in the Otavi Triangle, such as Tsumeb and Grootfontein. The 1981 census of the Republic of South Africa reported a White population of 76,430 in Namibia (71% Afrikaners and 17% German-speaking).[4]

There is also a white Jewish community.[5]

History

See also: History of Namibia

The first European to land in Namibia was Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão.[6]

Portuguese mariner and explorer Bartolomeu Dias reached Namibia in 1487. Europeans had no interest in Namibia until the 19th century because there was a desert along the country’s coast.[7]

German colonists killed tens of thousands of indigenous African tribes in Namibia between 1904 and 1908 during the Herero and Nama genocide due to white supremacy and belief in racial superiority.[8][9]

Economics

According to the FAO, around 42% of arable land was owned by Whites at the time of independence in 1990.[10] While the area was known as South West Africa, White Namibians enjoyed a highly privileged position due to apartheid laws enforcing strict segregation.[11]

Politicians

Businessmen

Sportspeople

Journalists

Farmers

Engineers

Artists

Fashion models

Population chart

More information Government, Year ...
White population of Namibia, 1965–2023 (estimated)
Government Year White population Total population White in percent
German South West Africa (1884–1915) 1913 14,830 200,000* 7%
South West Africa, South African administration (1915–1990) 191813,400[14]195,000*7%
19196,700[15]205,000*3%
192119,432[16]228,910[17]8%
193310,000[15]290,000*3%
195866,000[16]561,854[18]12%
196568,000[19]670,981[18]10%
198176,430[4]1,033,196[20]7%
Republic of Namibia (1990–)202353,773[1]3,022,401[1]2%
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See also

References

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