Erongo Region

Economy and infrastructure

Various mining operations occur within this region at places such as Navachab and on a smaller scale at places surrounding Uis and the desert area. Karibib also has a marble industry. Walvis Bay, fully incorporated into the Erongo Region in 1994, is the principal home of Namibia's fishing industry. Walvis Bay also boasts the only deep sea port and is the second largest town in the country. Swakopmund and Langstrand are popular beach resorts; Arandis supports mining industry and Swakopmund boasts manufacturing.

This region, with its link to the coast of Namibia, is well developed. Facilities such as schools, hospitals and clinics, the supply of electricity and telecommunication services are, with a few exceptions, well established. Erongo has 66 schools with a total of 32,114 pupils.

Politics

Constituencies

The region comprises seven electoral constituencies:

• Arandis
• Dâures (formerly Brandberg Constituency)
• Karibib
• Omaruru
• Swakopmund
• Walvis Bay Rural
• Walvis Bay Urban

Regional elections

Erongo is one of a few Namibian regions where there is considerable opposition support. In the 2004 regional election for the National Assembly of Namibia, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) won in five of the seven constituencies, two were won by the United Democratic Front (UDF).

In the 2015 regional elections, SWAPO obtained 65% of the total votes (2010: 67%) In the 2020 regional election the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, was the strongest party. It obtained 36.8% of votes overall and won three constituencies, including Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Urban. SWAPO obtained 30.5% of all votes and also won three constituencies. Dâures was again narrowly won by the UDF.

The governors of Erongo are:

• Cleophas Mutjavikua (2015–2020)
• Neville Andre Itope (2020–2025)
• Natalia ǀGoagoses (2025–)

Demographics

According to the Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census, Erongo had a population of 240,206 (117,884 females and 122,322 males or 104 males for every 100 females) growing at an annual rate of 3.9%. The fertility rate was 2.9 children per woman. 89.9% inhabitants lived in urban areas while 10.1% lived in rural areas, and with an area of 63,579 km2, the population density was 3.8 persons per km2. By age, 11% of the population was under 5 years old, 18.6% between 5–14 years, 36.4% between 15–34 years, 28.3% between 34-59 years, and 5.8% were 60 years and older. The population was divided into 74,795 households, with an average size of 3.1 persons. 42.7% of households had a female head of house, while 57.3% had a male head. For those 15 years and older, 70.3% had never married, 21.3% married with certificate, 1.4% married traditionally, 2.6% in a consensual union, 1.7% were divorced or separated, and 2.1% were widowed.

The most commonly spoken languages at home were Oshiwambo (38.8% of households), Afrikaans (20.4%), and Damara/Nama (18.8%), Herero (9.6%) and English (5.3%) . For those 15 years and older, the literacy rate was 95.4%. In terms of education, 89% of girls and 86% of boys between the ages of 6–15 were attending school, and of those older than 15, 78.1% had left school, 15.6% were currently at school, and 4.4% had never attended.

In 2001 the employment rate for the labor force (71% of those 15+) was 66% employed and 34% unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the labor force (24%), 35% were students, 34% homemakers, and 31% retired, too old, etc.

Among households, 97.6% had safe water, 9.7% no toilet facility, 77.9% electricity for lighting, 47.8% access to internet, and 13.3% had wood or charcoal for cooking. In terms of household's main sources of income, 0.7% derived it from farming, 68.7% from wages and salaries, 8% cash remittances, 7.5% from business or non-farming, and 7.7% from pension.

References

References

1. (2013). "Namibia's Population by Region". Institute for Public Policy Research.
2. "Erongo 2011 Census Regional Profile".
3. "2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report".
4. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab".
5. (18 January 2021). "Regional Council 2020 Election Results". [[Electoral Commission of Namibia]].
6. (27 November 2013). "School counsellors overstretched". [[The Namibian]].
7. (3 January 2005). "Electoral Act, 1992: Notification of Result of General Election for Regional Councils". [[Government of Namibia]].
8. (3 December 2015). "Regional Council Election Results 2015". [[Electoral Commission of Namibia]].
9. Menges, Werner. (29 November 2015). "Mixed results for opposition in regional polls". [[The Namibian]].
10. (8 October 2021). "Publication of results and particulars in respect of general elections for Regional Councils: Electoral Act, 2014". [[Government of Namibia]].
11. (10 April 2015). "President announces governors". [[The Namibian]].
12. (10 April 2020). "Goodbye". [[Namibian Sun]].
13. (1 July 2025). "Seven new regional governors appointed".
14. (2023). "Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census". National Planning Commission.
15. (2013-10-02). "Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Report".
16. Duddy, Jo Maré. (11 April 2013). "Unemployment rate still alarmingly high". [[The Namibian]].