Population of Zimbabwe

As of August 2026, the population of Zimbabwe is 17.3 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 325 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.90%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 16.8 years in 2016 to 18.3 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 63.6 years and population density is 44.7 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Zimbabwe peaked in 1980, reaching around 8.98% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.88% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 631.77 thousand in 1980 to nearly 324.7 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Zimbabwe, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 47.1 years in 2006 to 63.6 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 17 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Zimbabwe

The cities of Zimbabwe are mostly small, but 8 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Harare, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. It is followed by Bulawayo with 666 thousand and Chitungwiza, Harare with 371.2 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Zimbabwe: