Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Zimbabwe?
Harare
The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare. About 1.6 million people live in the Harare urban area — 9.3% of the country's population.
1.6 million
Urban area population
UTC+2
Time zone
17.82°S
Latitude · 31.03°E
Yes
Largest city
Harare at a glance
Name origin
Named after a village of Harare at the site of the present capital; the village name derived from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, whose name meant "he who does not sleep".
Time zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
17 49 S, 31 02 E · IANA time zone Africa/Maputo
Location of Zimbabwe
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Capitals closest to Harare
Lusaka, Zambia — 396 km
Lilongwe, Malawi — 519 km
Maputo, Mozambique — 918 km
Pretoria, South Africa — 923 km
Gaborone, Botswana — 926 km
Mbabane, Eswatini — 945 km
Maseru, Lesotho — 1,329 km
Moroni, Comoros — 1,477 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Harare
What is the capital of Zimbabwe?
The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare. About 1.6 million people live in the Harare urban area — 9.3% of the country's population.
Is Harare the largest city in Zimbabwe?
Yes — Harare is also the largest urban area of Zimbabwe (1.6 million).
What time zone is Harare in?
Harare is on UTC+2 — UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Harare come from?
Named after a village of Harare at the site of the present capital; the village name derived from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, whose name meant "he who does not sleep".
Which capital is closest to Harare?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Lusaka (Zambia) is the closest, 396 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).