More than 80 percent of the population are black African in origin. The largest ethnic groups are Ovambo, Kavango, Herero, Damara, and whites. Bushmen, living in the eastern section, are among the oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa. About two thirds of the Namibians live in rural areas, largely in the Central Plateau region. Except for the ports and mining centers in the Namib and the Kalahari area, where some Bushmen live, these regions are largely uninhabited.
Whites are mainly of German, English, and Dutch descent.
The Basters are people of mixed Nama and white ancestry. The majority of the population are Christian, and more than half of these are Lutherans. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16 and is free in public schools. The school system is segregated. Health conditions are better than in many other African countries.