The early history of Fransfontein dates back to the 1870s but Fransfontein was first settled in permanently from 1880. Fransfontein Settlement area celebrated in 2015. The settlement area has a township boundary covering 244,566 hectares. The 2011 National Housing and Population Census estimated the total population at 533, with 304 females and 249 males.
The Fransfontein Settlement area was proclaimed and declared through the government gazette by the Government of the Republic of Namibia in 2007. Settlement areas need to be developed in order to ease the burden of migration of people from settlement areas to towns in search of jobs and greener pastures.
Communal farmers surround the Fransfontein Settlement and agriculture is the main economic activity. Other sources of income include salaries and wages, pensions and social grants, and remittances. Potential investment opportunities include:
The Fransfontein Settlement is known to have a number of underground and on land streams. In the Kunene Region, livestock production is one of the key sources of livelihood to many rural households. The trading of animals during formal auctions especially in Outjo, Kamanjab, Khorixas and informal sales in Opuwo create a source of income to farmers residing in these constituencies.