Editing Namibia (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Namibia}}

Namibia has the second-[[List of countries by population density|lowest population density]] of any sovereign country, after [[Mongolia]], as well as having the lowest population density of any sovereign country with a coastline.<ref name="unpop">{{cite book|author=Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat|title=World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision|publisher=United Nations|year=2009|location=New York|chapter=Table A.1|access-date=12 March 2009|chapter-url=https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318041906/http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017 there were on average 3.08 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Development Indicators (WDI) {{!}} Data Catalog|url=https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/world-development-indicators|access-date=9 July 2019|publisher=World Bank|archive-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820022146/http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[total fertility rate]] in 2015 was 3.47 children per woman according to the UN which is lower than the average TFR in sub-Saharan Africa of 4.7.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bongaarts|first=John|date=21 September 2020|title=Trends in fertility and fertility preferences in sub-Saharan Africa: the roles of education and family planning programs|journal=Genus|volume=76|issue=1|pages=32|doi=10.1186/s41118-020-00098-z|issn=2035-5556|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Namibia conducts a census every ten years. After independence the first Population and Housing Census was carried out in 1991; further rounds followed in 2001, 2011, and 2023 (delayed two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and financial constraints).<ref name="2001Census">{{cite web|title=Census Summary Results|url=http://www.npc.gov.na/census/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111224420/http://www.npc.gov.na/census/index.htm|archive-date=11 January 2012|access-date=21 February 2012|publisher=National Planning Commission of Namibia}}</ref> The data collection method is to count every person resident in Namibia on the census reference night, wherever they happen to be. This is called the ''de facto'' method.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kapitako|first=Alvine|date=8 August 2011|title=Namibia: 2011 Census Officially Launched|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201108080754.html|access-date=26 August 2017|website=Allafrica.com|archive-date=29 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029131242/http://allafrica.com/stories/201108080754.html|url-status=live}}</ref> For enumeration purposes the country is demarcated into 4,042 ''enumeration areas''. These areas do not overlap with constituency boundaries to get reliable data for election purposes as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Methodology|url=http://www.npc.gov.na/census/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111224420/http://www.npc.gov.na/census/index.htm|archive-date=11 January 2012|access-date=21 February 2012|publisher=National Planning Commission of Namibia}}</ref>

The 2011 Population and Housing Census counted 2,113,077 inhabitants. Between 2001 and 2011 the annual population growth was 1.4%, down from 2.6% in the previous ten-year period.<ref name="snapshot">{{cite news|last=Duddy|first=Jo Maré|date=28 March 2013|title=Census gives snapshot of Namibia's population|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201303280355.html?page=2|access-date=26 August 2017|newspaper=[[The Namibian]]|archive-date=1 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225132/http://allafrica.com/stories/201303280355.html?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, the Namibia Statistics Agency conducted another census, which counted 3,022,401 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Namibia Statistics Agency {{!}} Census Disemination|url=https://census.nsa.org.na/|access-date=13 August 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313094106/https://census.nsa.org.na/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
[[File:Nama Woman Smoking Kalahari Desert Namibia Luca Galuzzi 2004.JPG|thumb|A [[Nama people|Nama]] woman]]
Namibia has many ethnic groups.<ref name="Census2023"/> The majority of the Namibian population is made of [[Bantu peoples|Bantu]]  and [[Khoisan]] peoples. The Bantu groups include the  [[Ovambo people|Ovambo]], [[Herero people|Herero]], [[Kavango people|Kavango]], [[Lozi people|Lozi]], [[Tswana people|Tswana]] and [[Himba people|Himba]] peoples. The Khoisan groups encompass the [[Damara people|Damara]], [[Nama people|Nama]], and [[San people|San]] peoples. There is also a mixed ancestry population consisting of [[Coloured people in Namibia|Coloureds]] (2.1%) and [[Basters]] (1.5%).<ref name="Census2023"/> There is a substantial [[Chinese people in Namibia|Chinese minority in Namibia]]; it stood at 40,000 in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|author=Malia Politzer|date=August 2008|title=China and Africa: Stronger Economic Ties Mean More Migration|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=690|access-date=10 September 2013|publisher=Migration Information Source|archive-date=29 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129114909/http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=690|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Himba Woman and Family.JPG|thumb|[[Himba people]] in northern Namibia]]

[[White Namibians|Whites]] (being mainly of [[Afrikaner people|Afrikaner]], German, British and [[Portuguese diaspora|Portuguese]] origin) make up 1.8% of the population. Although their proportion of the population decreased after [[Independence of Namibia|independence]] due to emigration and lower birth rates, they still form the second-largest population of [[Ethnic groups in Europe|European ancestry]], both in terms of percentage and actual numbers, in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] (after South Africa).<ref name="Census2023"/> The majority of [[White Namibians|Namibian whites]] and nearly all those who are of [[Basters|mixed race]] speak [[Afrikaans]] and share similar origins, culture, and religion as the white and coloured populations of South Africa. A large minority of whites (around 30,000) trace their family origins back to the [[German Namibians|German]] settlers who colonised Namibia prior to the South African invasion during the First World War, and they maintain German cultural and educational institutions. Nearly all Portuguese settlers came to the country from the former [[Portuguese West Africa|Portuguese colony]] of Angola.<ref>{{cite news|date=16 August 1975|title=Flight from Angola|url=https://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12079340|access-date=10 September 2013|newspaper=The Economist|archive-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825050453/http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12079340|url-status=live}}</ref> The 1960 census reported 526,004 persons in what was then South West Africa, including 73,464 whites (14%).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Lalita Prasad|title=The United Nations and Namibia|publisher=East African Publishing House|year=1980}}</ref>

===Education===
[[File:42817 06.JPG|thumb|Secondary school students]]
{{Main|Education in Namibia}}
{{See also|List of schools in Namibia}}

Namibia has free education for both primary and secondary education levels. Grades 1–7 are primary level, grades 8–12 are secondary. In 1998, there were 400,325 Namibian students in primary school and 115,237 students in secondary schools. The pupil-teacher ratio in 1999 was estimated at 32:1, with about 8% of the GDP being spent on education. Curriculum development, educational research, and professional development of teachers is centrally organised by the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) in Okahandja.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Institute for Educational Development|url=http://www.nied.edu.na/|access-date=26 June 2010|publisher=Nied.edu.na|archive-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512213852/http://www.nied.edu.na/|url-status=live}}</ref> Among sub-Saharan African countries, Namibia has one of the highest literacy rates.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Literacy – The World Factbook|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/literacy/|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=30 March 2022|archive-date=1 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401014237/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/literacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[CIA World Factbook]], as of 2018 91.5% of the population age 15 and over can read and write.<ref name="auto" />

Most schools in Namibia are state-run, but there are some private schools, which are also part of the country's education system. There are four teacher training universities, three colleges of agriculture, a police training college, and three universities: [[University of Namibia]] (UNAM), [[International University of Management]] (IUM) and [[Namibia University of Science and Technology]] (NUST). Namibia was ranked 102nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/|title=Global Innovation Index 2024. Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship|access-date=2024-10-22|author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]]|year=2024|isbn=978-92-805-3681-2|doi= 10.34667/tind.50062|website=www.wipo.int|location=Geneva|page=18}}</ref>

The 2018 Namibia Labour Force Survey indicates that 99,536 people within the working age population had tertiary education of any level (6.6% of the working age population), while 21,922 (1.5% of the working age population) of these had postgraduate education.
{| class="wikitable"
! Age group
! No education
! Primary
! Junior secondary
! Senior secondary
! Technical/vocational certificate or diploma
! Currently in year 1, 2 or 3 of tertiary education
! University certificate, diploma or degree
! Postgraduate certificate, diploma or degree
|-
|15–19
|10,695
|89,696
|112,104
|23,588
|508
|1,558
|299
|44
|-
|20–24
|19,090
|37,177
|99,661
|58,909
|6,185
|9,498
|6,019
|212
|-
|25–29
|13,757
|31,278
|81,909
|53,019
|7,263
|9,035
|16,294
|3,840
|-
|30–34
|13,753
|25,656
|73,216
|39,969
|4,886
|3,161
|15,520
|2,764
|-
|35–39
|13,030
|24,926
|55,816
|30,999
|3,497
|2,582
|10,831
|3,290
|-
|40–44
|16,042
|24,602
|38,462
|26,786
|3,508
|1,605
|7,284
|2,603
|-
|45–49
|12,509
|24,743
|27,780
|18,883
|1,180
|896
|6,752
|2,663
|-
|50–54
|12,594
|22,360
|20,641
|10,810
|891
|582
|5,529
|2,522
|-
|55–59
|12,754
|19,927
|13,654
|5,487
|825
|848
|4,064
|1,712
|-
|60–64
|13,832
|14,578
|8,006
|2,764
|584
|459
|2,135
|1,570
|-
|65+
|49,043
|31,213
|10,033
|3,415
|775
|389
|2,886
|702
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''187,100'''
|'''346,157'''
|'''541,281'''
|'''274,628'''
|'''30,101'''
|'''30,612'''
|'''77,615'''
|'''21,922'''
|}
The following table shows the 2018 Namibia Labour Force Survey employment statistics by education. Employment rates in Namibia generally increase with education status. A high school education typically ensures greater employment rates than those with no education or those with primary or junior secondary education as their highest achievement. Namibians with a university certificate, diploma or degree have a significantly higher employment rate at 76.4%, while postgraduate education holders are most likely to be employed with an employment rate of 83.8% in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cirrus Data|url=https://cirrus.com.na/dataportal/|access-date=9 November 2023|website=cirrus.com.na|archive-date=9 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109150442/https://cirrus.com.na/dataportal/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|
|No education
|Primary
|Junior secondary
|Senior secondary
|Technical/vocational certificate or diploma
|Currently in year 1, 2 or 3 of tertiary education
|University certificate, diploma or degree
|Postgraduate certificate, diploma or degree
|-
|Total
|187,100
|346,157
|541,281
|274,628
|30,101
|30,612
|77,615
|21,922
|-
|Employed
|85,352
|146,089
|229,259
|146,874
|16,292
|12,595
|59,328
|18,378
|-
|'''% Employed'''
|'''45.6%'''
|'''42.2%'''
|'''42.4%'''
|'''53.5%'''
|'''54.1%'''
|'''41.1%'''
|'''76.4%'''
|'''83.8%'''
|}

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Namibia}}
[[File:Swakopmund ev-luth Kirche 1.jpg|thumb|right|Lutheran church in [[Swakopmund]]]]

The Christian community makes up 80%–90% of the population of Namibia, with at least 75% being [[Protestant]], of which at least 50% are [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]. Lutherans are the largest religious group, a legacy of the German and [[Finland|Finnish]] missionary work during the country's colonial times.<ref name="finnish-mission" /> 10%–20% of the population hold [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] beliefs.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web|work=[[The World Factbook]]|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|author-link=CIA|year=2009|title=Namibia|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/namibia/|access-date=23 January 2010|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110010829/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/namibia|url-status=live}}</ref>

Missionary activities during the second half of the 19th century resulted in many Namibians converting to Christianity. Today most Christians are [[Lutheran]], but there also are [[Roman Catholic]], [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], [[African Methodist Episcopal Church|African Methodist Episcopal]], and [[Dutch Reformed Church|Dutch Reformed]].

[[Islam in Namibia]] is subscribed to by about 9,000 people,<ref>{{cite web|date=27 January 2011|title=Table: Muslim Population by Country|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/table-muslim-population-by-country/|access-date=13 March 2017|publisher=Pew Research Center|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406100706/http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/table-muslim-population-by-country/|url-status=live}}</ref> many of them Nama.<ref>{{cite web|title=Islam in Namibia, making an impact|url=https://archive.islamonline.net/?p=18129|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215035636/https://archive.islamonline.net/?p=18129|archive-date=15 February 2020|access-date=26 August 2017|publisher=Islamonline.net}}</ref> Namibia is home to a small [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[History of the Jews in Namibia|community]] of about 100 people.<ref name="jewishvirtuallibrary1">{{cite web|title=Namibia: Virtual Jewish History Tour|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/namibia.html|access-date=1 August 2013|publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org|archive-date=9 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109063048/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/namibia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Groups such as the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saints]] and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] are also present in the country.

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Namibia}}
{{bar box
|title=Home Languages in Namibia
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Languages
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|Oshiwambo Languages|darkgreen|49.7}}
{{bar percent|Khoekhoegowab|purple|11.0}}
{{bar percent|Kavango Languages|black|10.4}}
{{bar percent|Afrikaans|red|9.4}}
{{bar percent|Herero Languages|orange|9.2}}
{{bar percent|Lozi Languages|green|4.9}}
{{bar percent|English|blue|2.3}}
{{bar percent|Other|teal|1.0}}
{{bar percent|San Languages|darkred|0.7}}
{{bar percent|German|gray|0.6}}
{{bar percent|Other African Languages|tan|0.5}}
{{bar percent|Tswana|lime|0.3}}
{{bar percent|Other European Languages|violet|0.1}}
}}
The majority of Namibians can speak and understand English and Afrikaans. Up to 1990, English, [[German language in Namibia|German]], and [[Afrikaans]] were official languages. Long before Namibia's independence from South Africa, SWAPO was of the opinion that the country should become officially monolingual, choosing this approach in contrast to that of its neighbour South Africa (which granted [[Languages of South Africa|all 12 of its major languages]] official status), which it saw as "a deliberate policy of ethnolinguistic fragmentation."<ref>Pütz, Martin (1995) "Official Monolingualism in Africa: A sociolinguistic assessment of linguistic and cultural pluralism in Africa", p. 155 in ''Discrimination through language in Africa? Perspectives on the Namibian Experience''. Mouton de Gruyter. Berlin, {{ISBN|311014817X}}</ref> Consequently, SWAPO instituted English as Namibia's sole official language, though only 2.3% of the population speaks it as a home language. Its implementation is focused on the civil service, education and the broadcasting system, especially the state broadcaster NBC.<ref name="kriger">{{cite book|last1=Kriger|first1=Robert & Ethel|title=Afrikaans Literature: Recollection, Redefinition, Restitution.|date=1996|publisher=Rodopi Bv Editions|isbn=978-9042000513|pages=66–67}}</ref> Some other languages have received semi-official recognition by being allowed as medium of instruction in primary schools. Private schools are expected to follow the same policy as state schools, and "English language" is a compulsory subject.<ref name="kriger" /> Some critics argue that, as in other postcolonial African societies, the push for monolingual instruction and policy has resulted in a high rate of school drop-outs and of individuals whose academic competence in any language is low.<ref>Tötemeyer, Andree-Jeanne. ''Multilingualism and the language policy for Namibian schools.'' PRAESA Occasional Papers No. 37. University of Cape Town. Cape Town:2010.</ref>

According to the latest statistical data gathered in the most recent survey (2016), the linguistic landscape in the region has witnessed notable shifts since the 2011 census. [[Ovambo language|Oshiwambo]] remains the predominant language, claiming the position of the most spoken language for a significant 49.7% of households, surpassing its previous standing. [[KhoeKhoegowab]] follows at 11.0%, while the [[Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages|Kavango]] Languages, with a share of 10.4%, have also experienced a noteworthy increase. Afrikaans, identified as the country's ''lingua franca'', maintains a considerable presence at 9.4%. The Herero Languages account for 9.2%, indicating a slight adjustment from the previous census. [[Lozi language|Silozi]] has seen a shift to 4.9%, and English, utilized primarily as a second language, stands at 2.3%. Other Languages collectively represent 1.0%, with San Languages at 0.7%, and German at 0.6%. The diversity of languages in the region is further demonstrated by the presence of Other African Languages at 0.5%, [[Tswana language|Setswana]] at 0.3%, and Other European Languages at 0.1%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cirrus Data|url=https://cirrus.com.na/dataportal/|access-date=6 December 2023|website=cirrus.com.na|archive-date=9 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109150442/https://cirrus.com.na/dataportal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Note: (1) Herero languages include: Otjiherero, Otjimbanderu, Oruzemba, Otjizimba, Otjihakahona, Otjindongona and Otjitjavikwa

(2) Kavango languages include:&nbsp; Rukwangali, Rushambyu, Rugciriku, Thimbukushu, Rumanyo and Rukavango

Most of the white population speaks English, Afrikaans or German. More than a century after the end of the German colonial era, German continues to play a role as a commercial language. As a home language, Afrikaans is spoken by 60% of the white community, German by 32%, English by 7% and Portuguese by 4–5%.<ref name="CIA" /> Geographical proximity to Portuguese-speaking Angola explains the relatively high number of [[Portuguese speaker]]s; in 2011 these were estimated to number 100,000.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sasman|first=Catherine|date=15 August 2011|title=Portuguese to be introduced in schools|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/83964/archive-read/Portuguese-to-be-introduced-in-schools|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222082932/http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=85817&no_cache=1|archive-date=22 December 2012|newspaper=[[The Namibian]]|access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>

===Health===
{{Main|Health in Namibia}}
{{See also|HIV/AIDS in Namibia}}

[[Life expectancy]] at birth is estimated to be 64 years in 2017&nbsp;– among the lowest in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Life Expectancy ranks|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Namibia&countryCode=wa&regionCode=afr&rank=210#wa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523043802/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Namibia&countryCode=wa&regionCode=afr&rank=210#wa|archive-date=23 May 2020|access-date=26 August 2017|work=The World Factbook}}</ref>

Namibia launched a National Health Extension Programme in 2012<ref>{{cite web|date=16 October 2012|title=Namibia: Health Extension Programme Will Bridge Gaps Â? Unicef|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201210160334.html|access-date=26 August 2017|website=AllAfrica.com}}</ref> deployment 1,800 (2015) of a total ceiling of 4,800 health extension workers trained for six months in community health activities including first aid, health promotion for disease prevention, nutritional assessment and counseling, water sanitation and hygiene practices, HIV testing and community-based antiretroviral treatment.<ref>{{cite web|date=7 August 2015|title=Going the extra mile to deliver health care|url=https://www.unicef.org/namibia/Health_Worker_HIS_print.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711093332/https://www.unicef.org/namibia/Health_Worker_HIS_print.pdf|archive-date=11 July 2018|access-date=11 July 2018|publisher=unicef}}</ref>

Namibia faces a non-communicable disease burden. The Demographic and Health Survey (2013) summarises findings on elevated blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity:
* Among eligible respondents age 35–64, 44% of women and 45% of men have elevated blood pressure or are currently taking medicine to lower their blood pressure.
* 49% of women and 61% of men are not aware that they have elevated blood pressure.
* 43% of women and 34% of men with hypertension are taking medication for their condition.
* Only 29% of women and 20% of men with hypertension are taking medication and have their blood pressure under control.
* 6% of women and 7%  of men are diabetic; that is, they have elevated fasting plasma glucose values or report that they are taking diabetes medication. An additional 7% of women and 6% of men are prediabetic.
* 67% of women and 74% of men with diabetes are taking medication to lower their blood glucose.
* Women and men with a higher-than-normal body mass index (25.0 or higher) are more likely to have elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting blood glucose.<ref name=":3"/>{{rp|237}}

[[File:AIDS and HIV prevalence 2008.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Estimated percentage of HIV among young adults (15–49) per country {{as of|2011|lc=y}}:<ref>{{cite web|title=AIDSinfo|url=http://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/datatools/aidsinfo/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305203900/http://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/datatools/aidsinfo/|archive-date=5 March 2013|access-date=4 March 2013|website=UNAIDS}}</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{legend|#b00000|<small>15–50</small>}}
{{col-end}}]]
The [[HIV/AIDS in Namibia|HIV epidemic]] remains a public health issue in Namibia despite significant achievements made by the [[Ministry of Health and Social Services (Namibia)|Ministry of Health and Social Services]] to expand HIV treatment services.<ref>{{cite conference|title=Together We Are Ending AIDS in Namibia|url=http://www.namaidscon.net/media/downloads/downloads/speeches/aids_conference_rapporteur.pdf|conference=Namibia AIDS Conference 2016: 28 to 30 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116155355/http://www.namaidscon.net/media/downloads/downloads/speeches/aids_conference_rapporteur.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2017|access-date=15 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2001, there were an estimated 210,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, and the estimated death toll in 2003 was 16,000. According to the 2011 UNAIDS Report, the epidemic in Namibia "appears to be leveling off."<ref>{{cite web|title=UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2011|url=http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/JC2216_WorldAIDSday_report_2011_en.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824062831/http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/JC2216_WorldAIDSday_report_2011_en.pdf|archive-date=24 August 2014|access-date=26 August 2017|publisher=UNAIDS}}</ref> As the HIV/AIDS epidemic has reduced the working-aged population, the number of orphans has increased. It falls to the government to provide education, food, shelter and clothing for these orphans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aidsinafrica.net|url=http://www.aidsinafrica.net/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919200353/http://aidsinafrica.net/|archive-date=19 September 2017|access-date=26 August 2017|publisher=Aidsinafrica.net}}</ref> A Demographic and Health Survey with an HIV biomarker was completed in 2013 and served as the fourth comprehensive, national-level population and health survey conducted in Namibia as part of the global Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) programme. The DHS observed important characteristics associated to the HIV epidemic:<ref name=":3" />{{rp|169, 203, 218}}
* Overall, 26 percent of men age 15–49 and 32 percent of those age 50–64 have been circumcised.&nbsp;HIV prevalence for men age 15–49 is lower among circumcised (8.0 percent) than among uncircumcised men (11.9 percent). The pattern of lower HIV prevalence among circumcised than uncircumcised men is observed across most background characteristics. For each age group, circumcised men have lower HIV prevalence than those who are not circumcised; the difference is especially pronounced for men age 35–39 and 45–49 (11.7 percentage points each). The difference in HIV prevalence between uncircumcised and circumcised men is larger among urban than rural men (5.2 percentage points versus 2.1 percentage points).
* HIV prevalence among respondents age 15–49 is 16.9 percent for women and 10.9 percent for men. HIV prevalence rates among women and men age 50–64 are similar (16.7 percent and 16.0 percent, respectively).
* HIV prevalence peaks in the 35–39 age group for both women and men (30.9 percent and 22.6 percent, respectively). It is lowest among respondents age 15–24 (2.5–6.4 percent for women and 2.0–3.4 percent for men).
* Among respondents age 15–49, HIV prevalence is highest for women and men in Zambezi (30.9 percent and 15.9 percent, respectively) and lowest for women in Omaheke (6.9 percent) and men in Ohangwena (6.6 percent).
* In 76.4 percent of the 1,007 cohabiting couples who were tested for HIV in the 2013 NDHS, both partners were HIV negative; in 10.1 percent of the couples, both partners were HIV positive; and 13.5 percent of the couples were discordant (that is, one partner was infected with HIV and the other was not).
As of 2015, the Ministry of Health and Social Services and UNAIDS produced a [http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/country/documents/NAM_narrative_report_2015.pdf Progress Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119002530/https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/country/documents/NAM_narrative_report_2015.pdf |date=19 January 2022 }} in which [[UNAIDS]] projected HIV prevalence among 15–49-year-olds at 13.3% [12.2–14.5%] and an estimated 210,000 [200,000–230,000] living with HIV.<ref>{{Cite web|title=HIV and AIDS estimates (2015)|url=http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/namibia|access-date=26 August 2017|website=Unaids.org|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813083141/http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/namibia|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[malaria]] problem seems to be compounded by the AIDS epidemic. Research has shown that in Namibia the risk of contracting malaria is 14.5% greater if a person is also infected with HIV. The risk of death from malaria is also raised by approximately 50% with a concurrent HIV infection.<ref name="Korenromp" /> The country had only 598 physicians in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=WHO Country Offices in the WHO African Region|url=http://www.afro.who.int/home/countries/fact_sheets/namibia.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107105806/http://www.afro.who.int/home/countries/fact_sheets/namibia.pdf|archive-date=7 January 2010|access-date=26 June 2010|publisher=World Health Organization}}</ref>