Population · Africa · 2025 data
Zimbabwe Population
Zimbabwe had a population of 16.95 million in 2025, ranking #73 of 216 countries and territories (0.21% of the world). The population grew by 17.7% over the past ten years.
Population of Zimbabwe, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16,950,795 | +1.90% |
| 2024 | 16,634,373 | +1.80% |
| 2023 | 16,340,822 | +1.69% |
| 2022 | 16,069,056 | +1.72% |
| 2021 | 15,797,210 | +1.74% |
| 2020 | 15,526,888 | +1.67% |
| 2019 | 15,271,368 | +1.58% |
| 2018 | 15,034,452 | +1.50% |
| 2017 | 14,812,482 | +1.45% |
| 2016 | 14,600,294 | +1.40% |
| 2015 | 14,399,013 | +1.35% |
| 2014 | 14,207,359 | +1.38% |
| 2013 | 14,013,808 | +1.42% |
| 2012 | 13,817,887 | +1.64% |
| 2011 | 13,595,424 | +1.79% |
| 2010 | 13,356,548 | +1.63% |
| 2009 | 13,142,790 | +1.42% |
| 2008 | 12,959,149 | +1.21% |
| 2007 | 12,804,058 | +1.33% |
| 2006 | 12,636,445 | +1.23% |
| 2005 | 12,483,432 | +0.95% |
| 2004 | 12,365,896 | +1.09% |
| 2003 | 12,232,323 | +1.20% |
| 2002 | 12,087,653 | +0.97% |
| 2001 | 11,971,901 | +0.67% |
| 2000 | 11,892,055 | +0.92% |
| 1999 | 11,783,458 | +1.63% |
| 1998 | 11,594,297 | +1.97% |
| 1997 | 11,369,827 | +1.90% |
| 1996 | 11,158,360 | +1.67% |
| 1995 | 10,974,599 | +0.93% |
| 1994 | 10,873,148 | +0.12% |
| 1993 | 10,860,288 | +1.47% |
| 1992 | 10,702,700 | +2.86% |
| 1991 | 10,404,816 | +2.64% |
| 1990 | 10,137,281 | +2.76% |
| 1989 | 9,864,798 | +2.94% |
| 1988 | 9,583,094 | +3.21% |
| 1987 | 9,284,644 | +3.36% |
| 1986 | 8,982,578 | +3.40% |
| 1985 | 8,686,813 | +3.52% |
| 1984 | 8,391,488 | +3.62% |
| 1983 | 8,098,404 | +3.87% |
| 1982 | 7,796,496 | +3.97% |
| 1981 | 7,498,635 | +6.49% |
| 1980 | 7,041,303 | +5.92% |
| 1979 | 6,647,556 | +1.59% |
| 1978 | 6,543,575 | +1.46% |
| 1977 | 6,449,512 | +2.58% |
| 1976 | 6,287,105 | +3.09% |
| 1975 | 6,098,658 | +3.22% |
| 1974 | 5,908,328 | +3.29% |
| 1973 | 5,720,404 | +3.21% |
| 1972 | 5,542,445 | +3.12% |
| 1971 | 5,374,712 | +3.04% |
| 1970 | 5,215,918 | +3.12% |
| 1969 | 5,058,181 | +3.22% |
| 1968 | 4,900,440 | +3.20% |
| 1967 | 4,748,307 | +3.20% |
| 1966 | 4,601,217 | +3.20% |
| 1965 | 4,458,462 | +3.20% |
| 1964 | 4,320,006 | +3.20% |
| 1963 | 4,185,877 | +3.20% |
| 1962 | 4,055,959 | +3.19% |
| 1961 | 3,930,401 | +3.18% |
| 1960 | 3,809,389 | — |
Demographics of Zimbabwe
Ethnic groups
African 99.6% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other (includes Caucasian, Asiatic, mixed race) 0.4% (2022 est.)
Languages
Shona (official, most widely spoken) 80.9%, Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken) 11.5%, English (official, traditionally used for official business) 0.3%, 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa) 7%, other 0.3% (2022 est.)
Religions
Apostolic Sect 40.3%, Pentecostal 17%, Protestant 13.8%, other Christian 7.8%, Roman Catholic 6.4%, African traditionalist 5%, other 1.5% (includes Muslim, Jewish, Hindu), none 8.3% (2022 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Zimbabwe and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of Zimbabwe
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).