Several aspects of demographic research conducted among the Herero and Mbanderu in Ngamiland in 1987-1989 are described. Fertility has nearly tripled since the late 1950s, and life expectancy at birth has increased by about 15 years. A reconstruction of the 1906 Herero population suggests that the number of Herero who came to Botswana as refugees of the Herero-German War of 1904-1907 in Namibia has been significantly underestimated. Based on estimates of their numbers in the past, the projection indicates that there were 6 000 to 9 000 refugees.