By: Peneyambeko Jonas
The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has launched the Profiling Report of Marginalised Communities in Namibia, providing government and development partners with updated data expected to influence policy, budgeting and service delivery.
Compiled from the 2023 Population and Housing Census, the report estimates that 75,569 people, representing 2.5% of Namibia’s population, belong to historically marginalised communities, including the San, Ovatue and Ovatjimba.
Almost half of the population, 48.2%, are children below the age of 18, highlighting growing demand for investment in education, healthcare, nutrition and child protection.
Speaking on behalf of Vice President Lucia Witbooi during the launch in Windhoek, Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Moses ||Khumub said the report provides the government with evidence needed to make informed development decisions.
“This report transforms raw data into meaningful knowledge that reveals the realities behind the statistics and ensures that communities which have historically been under-represented become visible in national planning,” he said.
The report shows that Otjozondjupa Region has the largest concentration of marginalised communities, accounting for 31.3%, followed by Omaheke with 23.15. It also indicates that over 50,000 people live in rural areas, while literacy levels remain below the national average and participation in early childhood development programmes is comparatively low.
Employment levels also remain a concern, with only 9,673 people employed against a much larger unemployed population.
From an economic perspective, the findings provide a direction for limited public resources towards communities with the greatest development needs.
National Planning Commission Director-General Kaire Mbuende said the report offers a baseline for implementing the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and measuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The profile provides an important baseline for implementing NDP6 and tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Government institutions and development partners should integrate these findings into policies, plans and budgets,” Mbuende said.
Namibia Statistics Agency Statistician-General, Alex Shimuafeni, has consistently maintained that reliable statistics are essential for effective policymaking and efficient allocation of public resources.
“Namibia requires reliable, timely and high-quality statistics to formulate sound policies, allocate resources efficiently and assess progress towards national development goals,” Shimuafeni said during recent engagements on strengthening the national statistical system.
Development experts have long argued that detailed census information is essential for reducing inequality because it allows governments to move away from broad national programmes towards targeted interventions.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has also emphasised the importance of disaggregated census data in protecting vulnerable populations
“Without detailed and disaggregated census products, we risk leaving behind the most vulnerable groups in society,” said Erika Goldson, UNFPA Representative to Namibia.
The report arrives as Namibia intensifies efforts to improve evidence-based planning under NDP6 while balancing increasing demand for public services against limited fiscal resources.
Officials believe the data will assist ministries, regional councils, local authorities, civil society organisations and development partners in prioritising investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, livelihoods and social protection.
Beyond providing statistics, the report is expected to serve as a planning tool for future development programmes aimed at reducing inequality and ensuring that historically marginalised communities participate more fully in Namibia’s economic and social development.
