The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Africa
Languages Namibia, in 36 editions.
The entry for Namibia published Languages in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 20 editions. Each is shown as published. Languages in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 20
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Language” (1990 to 1991) and “Languages” (1992 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2018 edition
Changed since 2017Published as “Language”
Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official); several indigenous languages
Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official); several indigenous languages
Published as “Language”
- English is official language;
- Afrikaans is common language of most of population and about 60% of white population, German 32%, English 7%;
- several indigenous languages
English is official language; Afrikaans principal is common language of most of population and about 60% of white population, German of 33%, and 32%, English of 7% (all official); 7%; several indigenous languages
- English is official language;
- Afrikaans is common language of most of population and about 60% of white population, German 32%, English 7%;
- several indigenous languages
English is official language; Afrikaans is common language of most of
population and about 60% of white population, German 32%, English 7%;
several indigenous languages
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages
English is official language; 7% (official), Afrikaans is common language of most of
and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, English 7%; indigenous languages
several
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population
population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
- indigenous languages:
- Oshivambo,
- Herero,
- Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the
the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
most of32%,
32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
- indigenous languages:
- Oshivambo,
- Herero,
- Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
the population and about 60% of the white population, German
indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
most of32%,
32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
The same text in 6 editions, 2000 to 2005.
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages (Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, languages (Oshivambo, Herero, Nama Nama)
The same text in 4 editions, 2007 to 2010.
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages (Oshivambo, 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
The same text in 3 editions, 2011 to 2013.
- English (official) 7%,
- Afrikaans (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population),
- German 32%,
- indigenous languages (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama) 1%
English 7% (official), (official) 7%, Afrikaans common (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, population), German 32%, indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama) 1%
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
Rewritten: too little of the 2013 text remains to mark the changes.
Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%
note:
Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
The same text in 2015 and 2016.
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%
note:
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
Oshiwambo Oshivambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
- Oshiwambo languages 49.7%,
- Nama/Damara 11%,
- Kavango languages 10.4%,
- Afrikaans 9.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population),
- Herero languages 9.2%,
- Zambezi languages 4.9%,
- English (official) 2.3%,
- other African languages 1.5%,
- other European languages .7%,
- other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages
Oshivambo Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 10.4% 9.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango Herero languages 8.5%, Caprivi 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.8%, 4.9%, English (official) 3.4%, 2.3%, other African languages 2.3%, 1.5%, other 1.7% European languages .7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.)
- Oshiwambo languages 49.7%,
- Nama/Damara 11%,
- Kavango languages 10.4%,
- Afrikaans 9.4% (common language of most of the population),
- Herero languages 9.2%,
- Zambezi languages 4.9%,
- English (official) 2.3%,
- other African languages 1.5%,
- other European languages .7%,
- other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages
Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages .7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages
- Oshiwambo languages 49.7%,
- Nama/Damara 11%,
- Kavango languages 10.4%,
- Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language),
- Herero languages 9.2%,
- Zambezi languages 4.9%,
- English (official) 2.3%,
- other African languages 1.5%,
- other European languages .7%,
- other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (common language of most of the population), (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages .7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European European languages
The same text in 3 editions, 2021 to 2023.
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages .7%, 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
The same text in 2024 and 2025.
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), 9.4%, Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Namibia: Languages.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/namibia/languages.