Editing Erongo Region

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Erongo Region
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = 
| settlement_type         = [[regions of Namibia|Region]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image
 | total_width = 280
 | border = infobox
 | perrow = 2/1/2/
 | caption_align = center
 | image1 = Bird Island (Namibia) close.jpg
 | alt1 = Bird Island
 | image2 = Spitzkoppe Sonnenaufgang.jpg
 | alt2 = Spitzkoppe 
 | image3 = Swakopmund, Bezirks gericht - panoramio.jpg
 | alt3 = State House in Swakopmund
 | image4 = NC-walvis bay hafen lagune.jpg
 | alt4 = View of Walvis Bay
 | image5 = Skeleton Coast, Namibia (17104945508).jpg
 | alt5 = Skeleton Coast
 }}
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = '''From top, left to right:''' [[Bird Island (Namibia)|Bird Island]], [[Spitzkoppe]], State House in [[Swakopmund]], View over [[Walvis Bay]], [[Skeleton Coast]].
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = 
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| mottoeng                =
| image_map               = Erongo in Namibia.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of the Erongo Region in [[Namibia]]
| pushpin_map             = 
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| coordinates             = {{Coord|22.00|S|15.59|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Namibia]]
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| seat_type               = Capital
| seat                    = [[Swakopmund]]
| government_footnotes    = 
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = Governor
| leader_name             = [[Neville Andre Itope]]<ref name=Goodbye>{{cite news |url=https://www.namibiansun.com/news/goodbye2020-04-08/ |title=Goodbye |date=10 April 2020 |page=1 |newspaper=[[Namibian Sun]] |access-date=2020-04-09 |archive-date=2021-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526234928/https://www.namibiansun.com/news/goodbye2020-04-08 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| unit_pref               = Metric
| area_footnotes          = <ref name=ElectionWatch>{{cite journal |year=2013 |title=Namibia's Population by Region |journal=Election Watch |publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research |issue=1 |page=3}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 63,539
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_water_percent      = 
| area_note               = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| population_footnotes    = <ref name =Census2011>{{cite web |url=https://cms2.my.na/assets/documents/p19dptss1rt6erfri0a1k3q1mrhm.pdf |title=Erongo 2011 Census Regional Profile |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Statistics Namibia |df=dmy |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008102222/https://d3rp5jatom3eyn.cloudfront.net/cms/assets/documents/p19dptss1rt6erfri0a1k3q1mrhm.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsa.nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Preliminary-Report-doc-fn.pdf |title=2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary  Report|website=Statistics Namibia| df=dmy }}</ref>
| population_total        = 240,206
| population_as_of        = 2023 census
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         = 
| timezone                = [[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
| utc_offset              = +2
| timezone1_DST           = 
| utc_offset1_DST         = 
| postal_code_type        = 
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = 
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = 
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017)
| blank_info_sec1         = 0.711<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org |language=en |access-date=2018-09-13 |archive-date=2018-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |url-status=live }}</ref><br/>{{color|#0c0|high}} · [[List of Namibian regions by Human Development Index|2nd]]
| website                 = {{URL|www.erc.com.na}}
}}

'''Erongo''' is one of the 14 [[regions of Namibia]]. The capital is [[Swakopmund]]. It is named after [[Mount Erongo]], a well-known landmark in Namibia and in this area. Erongo contains the municipalities of [[Walvis Bay]], Swakopmund, [[Henties Bay]] and [[Omaruru, Namibia|Omaruru]], as well as the towns [[Arandis, Namibia|Arandis]], [[Karibib]] and [[Usakos]]. All the main centres within this region are connected by paved roads.

The Erongo Region had a population of 150,809 in 2011.<ref name=Census2011/> As of 2020, it had 119,784 registered voters.<ref name=election2020>{{Cite web |title=Regional Council 2020 Election Results |publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] |date=18 January 2021 |series=Interactive map |url=http://elections.na/ |accessdate=11 March 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612210020/https://elections.na/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the west, Erongo has a shoreline on the [[Atlantic Ocean]].  On land, it borders the following regions:
*[[Kunene Region|Kunene]] - north
*[[Otjozondjupa Region|Otjozondjupa]] - northeast
*[[Khomas Region|Khomas]] - southeast
*[[Hardap Region|Hardap]] - south

==Economy and infrastructure==

Various [[mining]] operations occur within this region at places such as [[Navachab Gold Mine|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, Namibia|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.<ref>{{cite news |title=School counsellors overstretched |last1=Miyanicwe |first1=Clemans |last2=Kahiurika |first2=Ndanki |date=27 November 2013 |work=[[The Namibian]] |page=1}}</ref>

== Politics ==
[[File:Wahlkreise in Erongo (2014).svg|thumb|300px|right|Erongo constituencies (2014)]]
===Constituencies===
The region comprises seven [[Constituencies of Namibia|electoral constituencies]]:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Arandis Constituency|Arandis]]
*[[Dâures Constituency|Dâures]] (formerly ''Brandberg Constituency'')
*[[Karibib Constituency|Karibib]]
*[[Omaruru Constituency|Omaruru]]
*[[Swakopmund Constituency|Swakopmund]]
*[[Walvis Bay Rural]]
*[[Walvis Bay Urban]]
{{div col end}}

===Regional elections===
Erongo is one of a few Namibian regions where there is considerable opposition support. In the [[2004 Namibian local and regional elections|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 (Namibia)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF).<ref>{{Cite news | title=Electoral Act, 1992: Notification of Result of General Election for Regional Councils | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=3366 | page=12 | publisher=[[Government of Namibia]] | date=3 January 2005 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2005/3366.pdf}}</ref>

In the [[Namibian local and regional elections, 2015|2015 regional elections]], SWAPO obtained 65% of the total votes ([[2010 Namibian local and regional elections|2010]]: 67%)<ref name=election2020/> and won six of the seven constituencies with only Dâures, traditionally a UDF stronghold, narrowly won by the opposition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional Council Election Results 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] |date=3 December 2015 |page=1 |url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0 |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208163948/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Mixed results for opposition in regional polls |last=Menges |first=Werner |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=29 November 2015 |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=144849 |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-date=11 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111000853/http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=144849 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2020 Namibian local and regional elections|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.<ref name=election2020/>

The governors of Erongo are: {{incomplete list |date=March 2021}}
*[[Cleophas Mutjavikua]] (2015–2020)<ref name=Governor>{{Cite news |title=President announces governors |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=10 April 2015 |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=25471 |access-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150414075438/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=25471 |archive-date=14 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Neville Andre Itope]] (2020–present)<ref name=Goodbye/>

==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&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the population density was 3.8 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. 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.<ref name=census>{{cite web |title=Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census|url=https://census.nsanamibia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf |publisher=National Planning Commission |year=2023 |access-date=2025-04-07}}</ref>

The most commonly spoken languages at home were [[Oshiwambo]] (38.8% of households), [[Afrikaans]] (20.4%), and [[Khoekhoe language|Damara/Nama]] (18.8%), [[Herero language|Herero]] (9.6%) and [[English language|English]] (5.3%) .<ref>{{Cite web |title=Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Report |url=http://www.nsa.org.na/files/downloads/Namibia%202011%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Main%20Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002064316/http://www.nsa.org.na/files/downloads/Namibia%202011%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Main%20Report.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-10-02 |date=2013-10-02 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> 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.<ref name=census/>

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.<ref name=census/> According to the 2023 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Erongo Region stood at 32%. The two studies are methodologically not comparable.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2013/april/article/unemployment-rate-still-alarmingly-high/ |title=Unemployment rate still alarmingly high |last=Duddy |first=Jo Maré |date=11 April 2013 |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414025748/http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2013/april/article/unemployment-rate-still-alarmingly-high |archive-date=14 April 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref name=census/>

==See also==
*[[Skeleton Coast]]

==External links==
* {{URL|www.erc.com.na}} Official web site: Erongo Regional Council
{{Commons|Erongo}}
{{wikivoyage|Erongo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Regions of Namibia}}
{{Constituencies of the Erongo Region}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Erongo Region| ]]
[[Category:Regions of Namibia]]