Population in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Population was 16.34 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
16.34 million people
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
75th
of 239 countries
All-time high
16.34 million people
in 2023
All-time low
170,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Zimbabwe, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Zimbabwe stood at 16.34 million people. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Zimbabwe peaked at 16.34 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 170,000 people, in 1000.
Zimbabwe ranks 75th of 239 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 170,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 170,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1200 | 170,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1300 | 170,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1400 | 170,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1500 | 340,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1600 | 368,900 people | +8.5% |
| 1700 | 397,800 people | +7.8% |
| 1710 | 404,601 people | +1.7% |
| 1720 | 412,333 people | +1.9% |
| 1730 | 420,561 people | +2.0% |
| 1740 | 429,343 people | +2.1% |
| 1750 | 438,745 people | +2.2% |
| 1760 | 448,844 people | +2.3% |
| 1770 | 459,732 people | +2.4% |
| 1780 | 471,520 people | +2.6% |
| 1790 | 484,341 people | +2.7% |
| 1800 | 1.09 million people | +124.2% |
| 1801 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 1.09 million people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 1.08 million people | -0.3% |
| 1820 | 1.08 million people | -0.6% |
| 1821 | 1.06 million people | -1.0% |
| 1822 | 1.05 million people | -1.3% |
| 1823 | 1.03 million people | -1.6% |
| 1824 | 1.02 million people | -1.6% |
| 1825 | 1.00 million people | -1.6% |
| 1826 | 984,868 people | -1.6% |
| 1827 | 968,938 people | -1.6% |
| 1828 | 953,265 people | -1.6% |
| 1829 | 937,846 people | -1.6% |
| 1830 | 922,676 people | -1.6% |
| 1831 | 907,752 people | -1.6% |
| 1832 | 893,069 people | -1.6% |
| 1833 | 878,624 people | -1.6% |
| 1834 | 864,412 people | -1.6% |
| 1835 | 850,430 people | -1.6% |
| 1836 | 836,674 people | -1.6% |
| 1837 | 823,141 people | -1.6% |
| 1838 | 809,827 people | -1.6% |
| 1839 | 796,728 people | -1.6% |
| 1840 | 783,841 people | -1.6% |
| 1841 | 771,162 people | -1.6% |
| 1842 | 758,688 people | -1.6% |
| 1843 | 746,417 people | -1.6% |
| 1844 | 734,343 people | -1.6% |
| 1845 | 722,465 people | -1.6% |
| 1846 | 710,779 people | -1.6% |
| 1847 | 699,282 people | -1.6% |
| 1848 | 687,971 people | -1.6% |
| 1849 | 680,342 people | -1.1% |
| 1850 | 676,370 people | -0.6% |
| 1851 | 676,113 people | -0.0% |
| 1852 | 679,468 people | +0.5% |
| 1853 | 686,415 people | +1.0% |
| 1854 | 693,432 people | +1.0% |
| 1855 | 700,521 people | +1.0% |
| 1856 | 707,683 people | +1.0% |
| 1857 | 714,918 people | +1.0% |
| 1858 | 722,226 people | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 729,610 people | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 737,069 people | +1.0% |
| 1861 | 744,604 people | +1.0% |
| 1862 | 752,216 people | +1.0% |
| 1863 | 759,906 people | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 767,675 people | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 775,523 people | +1.0% |
| 1866 | 783,451 people | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 791,460 people | +1.0% |
| 1868 | 799,552 people | +1.0% |
| 1869 | 807,725 people | +1.0% |
| 1870 | 815,983 people | +1.0% |
| 1871 | 824,325 people | +1.0% |
| 1872 | 832,752 people | +1.0% |
| 1873 | 841,265 people | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 849,865 people | +1.0% |
| 1875 | 858,553 people | +1.0% |
| 1876 | 867,330 people | +1.0% |
| 1877 | 876,197 people | +1.0% |
| 1878 | 885,154 people | +1.0% |
| 1879 | 894,203 people | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 903,344 people | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 912,579 people | +1.0% |
| 1882 | 921,908 people | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 931,333 people | +1.0% |
| 1884 | 940,854 people | +1.0% |
| 1885 | 950,472 people | +1.0% |
| 1886 | 960,189 people | +1.0% |
| 1887 | 970,004 people | +1.0% |
| 1888 | 979,920 people | +1.0% |
| 1889 | 989,938 people | +1.0% |
| 1890 | 1.00 million people | +1.0% |
| 1891 | 1.01 million people | +1.0% |
| 1892 | 1.02 million people | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 1.03 million people | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 1.04 million people | +1.0% |
| 1895 | 1.05 million people | +1.0% |
| 1896 | 1.06 million people | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 1.07 million people | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 1.08 million people | +1.0% |
| 1899 | 1.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 1.11 million people | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 1.13 million people | +1.4% |
| 1902 | 1.14 million people | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 1.16 million people | +1.7% |
| 1904 | 1.18 million people | +1.7% |
| 1905 | 1.20 million people | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 1.22 million people | +1.7% |
| 1907 | 1.24 million people | +1.7% |
| 1908 | 1.26 million people | +1.7% |
| 1909 | 1.28 million people | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 1.30 million people | +1.6% |
| 1911 | 1.33 million people | +1.6% |
| 1912 | 1.35 million people | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 1.37 million people | +1.6% |
| 1914 | 1.39 million people | +1.6% |
| 1915 | 1.41 million people | +1.6% |
| 1916 | 1.43 million people | +1.6% |
| 1917 | 1.45 million people | +1.6% |
| 1918 | 1.48 million people | +1.6% |
| 1919 | 1.50 million people | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 1.53 million people | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 1.56 million people | +1.9% |
| 1922 | 1.59 million people | +2.0% |
| 1923 | 1.62 million people | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 1.66 million people | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 1.69 million people | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 1.73 million people | +2.1% |
| 1927 | 1.76 million people | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 1.80 million people | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 1.84 million people | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 1.87 million people | +2.1% |
| 1931 | 1.91 million people | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 1.95 million people | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 1.99 million people | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 2.03 million people | +2.0% |
| 1935 | 2.07 million people | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 2.11 million people | +2.0% |
| 1937 | 2.16 million people | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 2.20 million people | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 2.25 million people | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 2.29 million people | +2.0% |
| 1941 | 2.33 million people | +2.0% |
| 1942 | 2.38 million people | +1.9% |
| 1943 | 2.43 million people | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 2.47 million people | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 2.52 million people | +1.9% |
| 1946 | 2.57 million people | +1.9% |
| 1947 | 2.62 million people | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 2.67 million people | +1.9% |
| 1949 | 2.73 million people | +2.2% |
| 1950 | 2.79 million people | +2.4% |
| 1951 | 2.88 million people | +3.2% |
| 1952 | 2.97 million people | +3.2% |
| 1953 | 3.07 million people | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 3.16 million people | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 3.26 million people | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 3.37 million people | +3.1% |
| 1957 | 3.47 million people | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 3.58 million people | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 3.69 million people | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 3.81 million people | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 3.93 million people | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 4.06 million people | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 4.19 million people | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 4.32 million people | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 4.46 million people | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 4.60 million people | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 4.75 million people | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 4.90 million people | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 5.06 million people | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 5.22 million people | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 5.37 million people | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 5.54 million people | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 5.72 million people | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 5.91 million people | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 6.10 million people | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 6.29 million people | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 6.45 million people | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 6.54 million people | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 6.65 million people | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 7.04 million people | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 7.50 million people | +6.5% |
| 1982 | 7.80 million people | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 8.10 million people | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 8.39 million people | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 8.69 million people | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 8.98 million people | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 9.28 million people | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 9.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 9.86 million people | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 10.14 million people | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 10.40 million people | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 10.70 million people | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 10.86 million people | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 10.87 million people | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 10.97 million people | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 11.16 million people | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 11.37 million people | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 11.59 million people | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 11.78 million people | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 11.89 million people | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 11.97 million people | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 12.09 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 12.23 million people | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 12.37 million people | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 12.48 million people | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 12.64 million people | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 12.80 million people | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 12.96 million people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 13.14 million people | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 13.36 million people | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 13.60 million people | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 13.82 million people | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 14.01 million people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 14.21 million people | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 14.40 million people | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 14.60 million people | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 14.81 million people | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 15.03 million people | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 15.27 million people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 15.53 million people | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 15.80 million people | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 16.07 million people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 16.34 million people | +1.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 16.34 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 16.34 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +124.2% | 484,341 people | 1.09 million people |
| 1500 | +100.0% | 170,000 people | 340,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 170,000 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 340,000 people | 340,000 people | 340,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 368,900 people | 368,900 people | 368,900 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 397,800 people | 397,800 people | 397,800 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 404,601 people | 404,601 people | 404,601 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 412,333 people | 412,333 people | 412,333 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 420,561 people | 420,561 people | 420,561 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 429,343 people | 429,343 people | 429,343 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 438,745 people | 438,745 people | 438,745 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 448,844 people | 448,844 people | 448,844 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 459,732 people | 459,732 people | 459,732 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 471,520 people | 471,520 people | 471,520 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 484,341 people | 484,341 people | 484,341 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.09 million people | 1.09 million people | 1.09 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.09 million people | 1.08 million people | 1.09 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.01 million people | 937,846 people | 1.08 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 858,333 people | 796,728 people | 922,676 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 729,529 people | 680,342 people | 783,841 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 698,676 people | 676,113 people | 729,610 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 771,918 people | 737,069 people | 807,725 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 854,563 people | 815,983 people | 894,203 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 946,054 people | 903,344 people | 989,938 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.05 million people | 1.00 million people | 1.10 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.19 million people | 1.11 million people | 1.28 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.40 million people | 1.30 million people | 1.50 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.68 million people | 1.53 million people | 1.84 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.06 million people | 1.87 million people | 2.25 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.50 million people | 2.29 million people | 2.73 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.22 million people | 2.79 million people | 3.69 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.41 million people | 3.81 million people | 5.06 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.98 million people | 5.22 million people | 6.65 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.52 million people | 7.04 million people | 9.86 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.99 million people | 10.14 million people | 11.78 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.46 million people | 11.89 million people | 13.14 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.31 million people | 13.36 million people | 15.27 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.93 million people | 15.53 million people | 16.34 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More population data for Zimbabwe
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0209 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0944 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 26,439 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.94 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5219 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 96.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.49 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Zimbabwe?
- Population in Zimbabwe was 16.34 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 16.34 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 170,000 people in 1000.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for population?
- Zimbabwe ranks 75th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.