Despite its size, Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with an estimated population of approximately 2.3 million people.
The population of Namibia is diverse and varies from the shepherds of the Himba in the northwest to the San in the east. Other important population groups are the Owambo, Kavango, Damara, Nama and Herero. The smaller groups include the Mafwe and Masubia in Caprivi, the San, the Batswana, the Rehoboth Baster and other mixed-breed, mostly lighter-skinned colored people, as well as the whites of European origin.