The Namibia Statistics Agency has named Swakopmund in the Erongo Region among the top ten towns with the highest urban population in the country. 

These statistics were announced by Anna Shivute, the Statistician of Vital and Migration Data at the Namibia Statistics Agency, during the dissemination of the Erongo regional profile in Swakopmund this week. 

Windhoek is in the top spot, followed by Rundu, then Walvis Bay, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, Katima Mulilo, Okahandja, Rehoboth and Tsumeb.

According to Shivute, the collected data showed that the population of the Erongo region has increased by 3.9%. 

"According to the statistics, the population in 2011 was 150,000, and by 2023 it had increased to 240,000, with more males than females recorded in both years. Also, we had more males than females. The population growth from 2011 to 2023, from 150,000 to 240,000, was 3.9%." 

She added that the population distribution is 216,000 for urban areas and 23,000 for rural Erongo.

"Swakopmund is topping with 75,000, followed by Walvis Bay urban, Walvis Bay rural, Karibib, Daures and Arandis, and the least in Omaruru. This is the population change per constituency from 2011 to 2023. So generally in Erongo, statistics show that the population between 2011 and 2023 grew by at least 59%. So the highest percentage of population growth was observed in Walvis Bay rural and then also in Swakopmund and in Omaruru, and then the least was in Daures."

The Senior Statistician for Labour Statistics and Other Statistics in Demographic and Social Statistics for NSA, Onesmus Shalonda, said unemployment was high in the Erongo Region.

According to Onesmus, manufacturing is the largest contributor to employment in the Erongo Region, followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

"Manufacturing is contributing to 60.7% of the total employment for the Erongo Region, and that is followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing. We also have individuals who are employed in our commercial farms in the Erongo Region."