Census highlights gaps facing marginalized communities

Allexer Namundjembo

The marginalized communities continue to face significant challenges in education, employment, housing and access to basic services despite making up an important part of the country’s cultural diversity, according to a new report released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) on Wednesday.

The report, presented by statistician-general and NSA chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni, provides the first comprehensive statistical profile of the San, Ovatue/Ovatwa and Ovatjimba communities based on data from the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

According to the report, the three marginalized communities comprise 75 569 people, representing 2.5% of Namibia’s total population.

The San account for 94.2% of the marginalized population, followed by the Ovatue/Ovatwa at 4.9% and the Ovatjimba at 0.9%. More than two-thirds of the population lives in rural areas, with the largest concentrations found in the Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and Kunene regions.

Presenting the findings, Shimuafeni said the report provides critical information needed to address inequalities affecting marginalized communities.