Here's a more detailed breakdown:
* South Africa:
* Approximately 13.5 million people in South Africa speak Afrikaans as their first language, representing about 23% of the population.
* It's also spoken as a second language by many South Africans, particularly those from the mixed-race community.
* Namibia:
* About 10% of the population in Namibia speaks Afrikaans as a first language.
* It is primarily spoken by the Afrikaner community, which originated from South Africa.
Beyond these countries, Afrikaans is also spoken by smaller communities in other parts of the world, including:
* Zimbabwe
* Botswana
* Swaziland
* The Netherlands (though this is largely a matter of historical interest and cultural connection).
* Other parts of the world: Small communities of Afrikaner descendants, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, also speak the language.
It's important to note that the number of speakers of Afrikaans is constantly evolving, and it's difficult to give a precise figure. However, it's clear that Afrikaans is primarily a Southern African language with a strong historical and cultural connection to the region.