Editing Namibia (section)

===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>