# Otjiwarongo

> city in Namibia

**Wikidata**: [Q993149](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q993149)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otjiwarongo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/otjiwarongo

## Summary

Otjiwarongo is a city in northern Namibia and the capital of the Otjozondjupa Region, situated at coordinates -20.464166666667° latitude and 16.652777777778° longitude at an elevation of 1,460 metres above sea level. Founded in 1906, the city serves as an administrative, commercial, and transport hub in north-central Namibia, with a population of 49,022 as of the 2023 census.

## Key Facts

- **Country**: Namibia
- **Region**: Otjozondjupa Region (also the capital of this region)
- **Coordinates**: -20.464166666667° latitude, 16.652777777778° longitude
- **Elevation**: 1,460 metres above sea level
- **Timezone**: UTC+02:00 (Central Africa Time)
- **Founded**: 1906
- **Population (2023)**: 49,022 (census)
- **Population (2011)**: 28,249
- **Population (2001)**: 19,614
- **UN/Locode**: NAOTJ
- **Local dialing code**: 67
- **Official website**: http://www.otjiwarongomun.org/
- **Instance of**: city
- **Sitelink count**: 38
- **Wikipedia languages**: af, ar, arz, be, bg, ceb, da, de, en, es, et, fi, fr, frr, id, it, ja, ko, lt, mdf, nl, pl, pt, ro, ru, simple, sn, sv, sw, szl, tr, uk, ur, zh, zu

## FAQs

**What is Otjiwarongo known for?**

Otjiwarongo is a regional capital in north-central Namibia known for its role as an administrative and commercial centre in the Otjozondjupa Region. The city serves as a hub for tourism and transportation in northern Namibia.

**When was Otjiwarongo founded?**

Otjiwarongo was founded in 1906 during the German colonial period in South West Africa.

**What is the population of Otjiwarongo?**

According to the 2023 census, Otjiwarongo had a population of 49,022 residents. This represents significant growth from 28,249 in 2011 and 19,614 in 2001.

**What region is Otjiwarongo the capital of?**

Otjiwarongo is the capital of the Otjozondjupa Region in northern Namibia.

**What is the elevation of Otjiwarongo?**

Otjiwarongo sits at an elevation of 1,460 metres above sea level.

**What towns is Otjiwarongo twinned with?**

Otjiwarongo has twinning relationships with several cities internationally and domestically: Ensisheim (France), Dundas (Canada), Heusden (Belgium), Katima Mulilo (Namibia), Khorixas (Namibia), Okakarara (Namibia), and Windhoek (Namibia).

**What is the dialing code for Otjiwarongo?**

The local dialing code for Otjiwarongo is 67.

## Why It Matters

Otjiwarongo serves as a vital regional centre for northern Namibia, functioning as the administrative capital of the Otjozondjupa Region. Its significance stems from its strategic location in north-central Namibia, serving as a gateway between the more densely populated northern regions and the capital Windhoek. The city has experienced substantial population growth over the past two decades, nearly tripling from approximately 19,600 in 2001 to over 49,000 in 2023, reflecting broader urbanization trends in Namibia's regional centres.

The city's elevation of 1,460 metres above sea level places it in a relatively high-altitude zone, contributing to its climate and agricultural potential in the surrounding savanna region. As a twinned city with multiple international and domestic partners, Otjiwarongo participates in cultural and administrative exchanges that benefit local development. Its role as a commercial hub, combined with its founding in 1906 during the German colonial era, gives the city historical significance in Namibia's colonial and post-independence development trajectory.

## Notable For

- Capital of the Otjozondjupa Region, one of Namibia's 14 regions
- Located at an elevation of 1,460 metres, making it one of the higher-altitude cities in Namibia
- Experienced rapid population growth of over 149% between 2001 and 2023
- Twinned with seven cities across three countries (France, Canada, Belgium) and four Namibian towns
- Served by 38 Wikipedia language editions, indicating substantial international interest
- Founded in 1906 during the German colonial period, giving it over 118 years of history

## Body

### History and Foundation

Otjiwarongo was established in 1906 during the German colonial period in South West Africa. The city's name derives from the Otjiherero language, reflecting the indigenous heritage of the region prior to European colonization. The founding occurred during a period of German colonial administration that lasted until the end of World War I, after which South West Africa came under South African administration until Namibia gained independence in 1990.

### Geography and Location

The city is situated at coordinates -20.464166666667° latitude and 16.652777777778° longitude in the north-central part of Namibia. At an elevation of 1,460 metres above sea level, Otjiwarongo lies in a savanna region characterized by mixed woodland and grassland. The city falls within the Central Africa Time zone (UTC+02:00). The city serves as the capital of the Otjozondjupa Region, one of Namibia's 14 administrative regions, and is located within this region rather than being a separate entity.

### Demographics and Population

Otjiwarongo has experienced significant population growth over the past two decades. The 2001 census recorded 19,614 residents, which increased to 28,249 by 2011. The most recent 2023 census documented a population of 49,022, representing a 73.5% increase from 2011 and a 150% increase from 2001. This growth trajectory reflects broader urbanization patterns in Namibia, where regional centres are experiencing increasing migration from rural areas.

### Administration and Governance

As the capital of the Otjozondjupa Region, Otjiwarongo serves as the administrative centre for regional government functions. The city has an official municipal website at http://www.otjiwarongomun.org/. The local dialing code is 67 for telecommunications. The city operates under the municipal governance structure established under Namibian law.

### International Connections and Twinning

Otjiwarongo maintains twinning relationships with several cities both internationally and domestically. Internationally, the city is twinned with Ensisheim in France, Dundas in Canada, and Heusden in Belgium. Domestically, Otjiwarongo is twinned with Katima Mulilo, Khorixas, Okakarara, and Windhoek, all located in Namibia. These twinning relationships facilitate cultural exchanges, administrative cooperation, and potential economic partnerships.

### Identification Codes and Identifiers

The city is identified by multiple international and national identifier systems. Its UN/Locode is NAOTJ, facilitating international trade and logistics. The Geonames ID is 3353811, while the OpenStreetMap node ID is 245023717. The Library of Congress authority ID is n84219281, and the VIAF ID is 158331582. The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID is 1000917, and the Who's on First ID is 421169039. The city also appears in the Yale LUX database with ID place/7cac6a93-0090-41f9-abd1-e95a9532182d.

### Digital Presence

Otjiwarongo has a substantial digital presence across multiple platforms. The city is documented in 38 Wikipedia language editions, ranging from Afrikaans (af) to Zulu (zu), indicating international interest in the city. The English Wikipedia article serves as the primary article, with the Wikidata ID Q13219454 providing structured data. The city has a presence on Quora as a topic and is categorized on Wikimedia Commons with the category "Otjiwarongo." The city also appears in the RKD thesaurus and the CERL thesaurus for cultural heritage references.

### Notable Infrastructure

The city has dedicated digital assets including a coat of arms image (Otjiwarongo_COA.svg), a banner image (Otjiwarongo_Banner.jpg), and a skyline image (Otji-skyline.jpg) available on Wikimedia Commons. The local government maintains an official website facilitating citizen services and information dissemination. The city is accessible via road transport, with the local dialing code 67 connecting it to Namibia's telecommunications network.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://nsa.org.na/microdata1/index.php/catalog)
4. [Source](https://nsa.org.na/census/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf)
5. GeoNames
6. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/na.htm)
7. Quora
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File