Zimbabwe
- Capital:
- Harare
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza
- Abbreviation:
- ZWE
17,273,580
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
17,273,580
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Zimbabwe's population is projected to be 36,932,287 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17,273,580 | 1.8% | 74 |
| 2025 | 16,950,795 | 1.77% | 74 |
| 2020 | 15,526,888 | 1.67% | 74 |
| 2019 | 15,271,368 | 1.58% | 74 |
| 2018 | 15,034,452 | 1.5% | 74 |
| 2017 | 14,812,482 | 1.45% | 74 |
| 2015 | 14,399,013 | 1.51% | 73 |
| 2010 | 13,356,548 | 1.36% | 71 |
| 2005 | 12,483,432 | 0.97% | 70 |
| 2000 | 11,892,055 | 1.62% | 66 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17,273,580 | 1.8% | 74 |
| 2032 | 19,311,356 | 1.87% | 71 |
| 2037 | 21,144,735 | 1.83% | 69 |
| 2042 | 23,000,894 | 1.7% | 68 |
| 2047 | 24,816,446 | 1.53% | 66 |
| 2052 | 26,563,784 | 1.37% | 65 |
| 2057 | 28,202,519 | 1.2% | 64 |
| 2062 | 29,740,361 | 1.07% | 62 |
| 2067 | 31,192,889 | 0.96% | 61 |
| 2072 | 32,534,295 | 0.85% | 62 |
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Harare has a metropolitan area population of 1,494,371, comprising 8.65%% of Zimbabwe's total population.
As of 2026, Zimbabwe has a total population of 17,273,580, ranking as the 74th most populous nation in the world.
Zimbabwe has a net population change of approximately 888 people per day, driven by 1,383 births, 345 deaths, and net emigration of 150 people.
Zimbabwe represents 0.22% of the total global population and 1.09% of Africa's population.
Zimbabwe has a population density of 44.7 people per km² (approximately 115.6 per mi²), making it the 168th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 27.1% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 16, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Zimbabwe is African (99.6%) . Note: predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group.
As of 2026, Protestant is the largest religion in Zimbabwe, comprising 74.8% of the population.