The population of Zimbabwe has grown during the 20th century. This is in accordance with the model of a developing country with high birth rates and falling death rates, resulting in relatively high population growth rate (around 3% or above in the 1960s and early 1970s). After a spurt in the period 1980-1983 following independence, a decline in birth rates set in. Since 1991, however, there has been a jump in death rates from a low of 10 per 1000 in 1985 to a high of 25 per 1000 in 2002/2003. It has since subsided to just under 22 per 1000 (estimate for 2007) a little below the birth rate of around 27 per 1000.[1][2]
ZimStat released the 2022 Population and Housing Census Preliminary Results which showed that Zimbabwe's population had increased by 16.2% and stood at 15.1 million people as at 20 April 2022
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Based on the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[4][5], the population of Zimbabwe was estimated by the United Nations at 15,993,524 in 2021. About 38.9% comprised youths under 15, while another 56.9% grouped persons aged between 15 and 65 years. Only around 4.2% of citizens were apparently over 65.[6]
Total population
Population aged 0–14 (%)
Population aged 15–64 (%)
Population aged 65+ (%)
1950
2 747 000
42.0
54.8
3.2
1955
3 204 000
43.8
52.9
3.3
1960
3 752 000
45.3
51.4
3.4
1965
4 422 000
47.7
49.0
3.3
1970
5 206 000
48.1
48.7
3.2
1975
6 170 000
48.4
48.5
3.1
1980
7 289 000
48.9
48.1
3.0
1985
8 855 000
47.9
49.1
3.0
1990
10 469 000
46.1
50.9
3.0
1995
11 685 000
44.3
52.5
3.2
2000
12 509 000
41.7
54.9
3.4
2005
12 710 000
40.1
56.1
3.8
2010
13 080 000
38.9
56.9
4.2
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020):[7]
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
%
Total
7 287 922
7 891 035
15 178 957
100
0
220 711
221 948
442 659
2.9
1–4
815 889
817 766
1 633 655
10.7
5–9
1 032 460
1 037 226
2 069 686
13.6
10–14
992 173
994 369
1 986 542
13.1
15–19
603 279
791 914
1 573 123
10.4
20–24
603 279
676 121
1 279 400
8.4
25–29
478 758
559 313
1 038 071
6.8
30–34
434 810
510 887
945 697
6.2
35–39
463 676
533 369
997 045
6.6
40–44
385 120
410 155
795 275
5.2
45–49
328 502
332 942
661 444
4.4
50–54
224 187
226 417
450 604
3.0
55–59
128 893
180 111
309 004
2.0
60–64
117 633
177 522
295 155
1.9
65-69
103 166
151 151
254 317
1.7
70-74
67 666
103 527
171 193
1.1
75-79
44 665
65 358
110 023
0.7
80-84
31 067
45 038
76 105
0.5
85-89
17 048
26 442
43 490
0.3
90-94
8 620
15 692
24 312
0.16
95-99
2 454
5 311
7 765
0.05
100+
1 523
3 754
5 277
0.03
Age group
Male
Female
Total
Percent
0–14
2 837 556
2 918 635
6 132 546
40.4
15–64
4 361 627
4 778 499
8 344 818
54.97
65+
240 038
337 468
692 482
4.56
Vital statistics
Registration of vital events in Zimbabwe is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[8]
Period
Mid-year Population
Live births
Deaths
Natural change
CBR*
CDR*
NC*
TFR*
IMR*
Life expectancy (in years)
1950
2 791 000
141 000
46 000
95 000
50.4
16.6
33.8
7.10
102.2
49.64
1951
2 882 000
144 000
48 000
96 000
49.9
16.7
33.2
7.10
101.4
49.86
1952
2 974 000
147 000
49 000
98 000
49.5
16.5
33.1
7.11
99.8
50.22
1953
3 068 000
151 000
50 000
101 000
49.1
16.2
32.9
7.12
98.1
50.62
1954
3 165 000
155 000
50 000
104 000
48.8
15.9
32.8
7.13
96.4
51.01
1955
3 264 000
158 000
51 000
107 000
48.4
15.7
32.7
7.14
95.0
51.28
1956
3 365 000
162 000
52 000
110 000
48.1
15.4
32.7
7.16
93.6
51.70
1957
3 470 000
166 000
53 000
114 000
47.9
15.1
32.8
7.17
92.2
52.06
1958
3 579 000
171 000
53 000
118 000
47.7
14.8
32.8
7.19
90.6
52.40
1959
3 691 000
175 000
54 000
122 000
47.4
14.5
32.9
7.20
88.8
52.84
1960
3 806 000
180 000
54 000
126 000
47.3
14.2
33.0
7.22
87.1
53.24
1961
3 926 000
185 000
55 000
130 000
47.0
13.9
33.1
7.23
85.3
53.62
1962
4 050 000
190 000
55 000
135 000
46.9
13.6
33.3
7.26
83.3
54.07
1963
4 178 000
195 000
55 000
140 000
46.6
13.2
33.4
7.25
81.3
54.55
1964
4 310 000
200 000
56 000
145 000
46.4
12.9
33.5
7.26
79.2
54.99
1965
4 447 000
206 000
56 000
150 000
46.2
12.6
33.7
7.26
77.1
55.46
1966
4 589 000
212 000
56 000
155 000
46.1
12.3
33.8
7.24
75.2
55.89
1967
4 735 000
218 000
57 000
161 000
45.9
12.0
33.9
7.22
73.5
56.19
1968
4 886 000
225 000
58 000
167 000
45.9
11.8
34.1
7.19
72.1
56.46
1969
5 044 000
232 000
59 000
174 000
46.0
11.6
34.3
7.14
71.0
56.71
1970
5 203 000
240 000
60 000
181 000
46.1
11.4
34.6
7.09
70.1
57.03
1971
5 363 000
248 000
61 000
187 000
46.2
11.4
34.8
7.06
69.6
57.20
1972
5 533 000
258 000
63 000
195 000
46.5
11.3
35.2
7.06
69.3
57.40
1973
5 713 000
269 000
65 000
204 000
47.0
11.3
35.7
7.07
69.1
57.37
1974
5 904 000
279 000
67 000
212 000
47.2
11.3
35.9
7.04
69.0
57.49
1975
6 097 000
289 000
69 000
220 000
47.3
11.3
36.0
6.98
69.2
57.55
1976
6 288 000
297 000
73 000
224 000
47.1
11.6
35.6
6.91
69.3
56.94
1977
6 453 000
304 000
77 000
227 000
46.7
11.8
34.9
6.85
69.3
56.29
1978
6 549 000
309 000
84 000
226 000
46.6
12.6
34.0
6.77
69.0
54.59
1979
6 656 000
310 000
84 000
226 000
46.3
12.6
33.8
6.70
68.5
55.04
1980
7 050 000
317 000
76 000
241 000
46.2
11.1
35.1
6.61
66.9
58.67
1981
7 507 000
349 000
76 000
273 000
46.5
10.1
36.4
6.51
64.8
59.33
1982
7 804 000
358 000
76 000
282 000
45.9
9.8
36.1
6.38
62.0
59.88
1983
8 106 000
366 000
77 000
289 000
45.1
9.4
35.7
6.25
59.2
60.25
1984
8 399 000
365 000
75 000
290 000
43.4
8.9
34.5
6.08
55.7
61.05
1985
8 691 000
365 000
74 000
291 000
42.0
8.5
33.5
5.90
52.9
61.62
1986
8 983 000
364 000
73 000
290 000
40.5
8.2
32.3
5.70
50.8
62.02
1987
9 277 000
363 000
75 000
288 000
39.2
8.1
31.0
5.50
49.5
61.77
1988
9 569 000
356 000
78 000
278 000
37.2
8.2
29.0
5.29
49.2
61.32
1989
9 846 000
350 000
83 000
267 000
35.6
8.4
27.2
5.08
49.7
60.40
1990
10 114 000
352 000
88 000
263 000
34.8
8.7
26.0
4.87
50.9
59.43
1991
10 378 000
357 000
96 000
261 000
34.4
9.3
25.2
4.71
52.6
58.09
1992
10 642 000
363 000
106 000
257 000
34.1
9.9
24.2
4.57
54.8
56.44
1993
10 795 000
361 000
118 000
243 000
33.1
10.8
22.3
4.39
57.1
54.43
1994
10 859 000
359 000
128 000
230 000
32.8
11.8
21.1
4.27
58.9
52.59
1995
10 994 000
359 000
141 000
218 000
32.6
12.8
19.8
4.15
60.5
50.53
1996
11 178 000
372 000
154 000
218 000
33.2
13.8
19.4
4.11
61.8
48.96
1997
11 362 000
385 000
163 000
221 000
33.8
14.4
19.4
4.06
61.7
47.99
1998
11 548 000
399 000
175 000
224 000
34.5
15.2
19.4
4.03
61.4
46.82
1999
11 716 000
415 000
192 000
223 000
35.3
16.3
19.0
4.01
60.6
45.21
2000
11 835 000
424 000
200 000
224 000
35.6
16.8
18.8
3.97
59.9
44.69
2001
11 911 000
431 000
228 000
203 000
36.0
19.0
16.9
3.95
58.9
41.96
2002
11 985 000
433 000
204 000
229 000
35.9
17.0
19.0
3.89
58.3
44.57
2003
12 076 000
435 000
216 000
219 000
35.9
17.8
18.1
3.82
57.7
43.39
2004
12 161 000
434 000
208 000
226 000
35.5
17.0
18.5
3.74
58.1
44.50
2005
12 225 000
430 000
207 000
223 000
34.9
16.8
18.1
3.67
58.5
44.77
2006
12 330 000
427 000
203 000
223 000
34.5
16.4
18.1
3.62
59.5
45.36
2007
12 451 000
436 000
204 000
232 000
34.8
16.3
18.5
3.65
59.9
45.61
2008
12 550 000
449 000
197 000
252 000
35.6
15.6
20.0
3.77
59.9
46.72
2009
12 680 000
469 000
189 000
280 000
36.7
14.8
21.9
3.95
58.1
48.06
2010
12 840 000
478 000
171 000
307 000
37.1
13.3
23.8
4.03
55.0
50.65
2011
13 026 000
487 000
155 000
332 000
37.2
11.9
25.3
4.10
51.9
53.35
2012
13 265 000
490 000
142 000
347 000
36.8
10.7
26.1
4.10
47.2
55.63
2013
13 555 000
492 000
133 000
360 000
36.2
9.8
26.5
4.06
44.0
57.46
2014
13 856 000
488 000
127 000
361 000
35.1
9.1
26.0
3.96
42.0
58.85
2015
14 155 000
482 000
124 000
357 000
34.0
8.8
25.2
3.85
41.1
59.59
2016
14 453 000
480 000
122 000
358 000
33.2
8.4
24.7
3.77
39.6
60.31
2017
14 751 000
481 000
122 000
358 000
32.5
8.3
24.3
3.71
38.7
60.71
2018
15 052 000
484 000
120 000
364 000
32.1
8.0
24.1
3.66
37.4
61.41
2019
15 271 000
475 000
126 000
349 000
31.1
8.3
22.8
3.75
36.8
61.1
2020
15 527 000
481 000
126 000
355 000
31.0
8.1
22.9
3.75
35.7
61.5
2021
15 797 000
489 000
139 000
350 000
30.9
8.8
22.2
3.77
34.8
60.1
2022
16 069 000
496000
125 000
371 000
30.9
7.8
23.1
3.77
34.1
62.4
2023
16 341 000
497 000
124 000
373 000
30.4
7.6
22.8
3.72
33.2
62.8
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)
Fertility and births
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[9]
According to 2012 Census report, 99.6% of the population is of African origin.[12]
Of the rest of the population, the great bulk—perhaps 30,000 persons[13][14][15]—are White Zimbabweans of European ancestry, a minority which had diminished in size prior to independence.[16]
The vast black majority has grown at a projected annual rate of 4.3% since 1980.[17] Although present figures are difficult to ascertain, the white community once reproduced itself at an annual rate (under 1.5%) similar to that of most totals in developed nations.[18] Of the two major ethnolinguistic categories, Shona speakers formed a decisive plurality at (80<)% and occupied the eastern two-thirds of Zimbabwe.[19]Ndebele speakers constitute about 16%, and none of the other indigenous ethnic groups came to as much as 2% in recent decades.[20][better source needed] African speakers of nonindigenous languages included migrant workers from Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique.[21]
A heavily urbanised Coloured population is descended, partially, from early unions between White Rhodesian settlers and local Black African females. Many, however, can also trace their ancestry to the Dutch/Khoisan mulatto clans of the Cape.
With the exception of a select few who were brought to Zimbabwe as railroad workers, most Asians in Zimbabwe arrived from India pursuing employment or entrepreneurship. An educated class, they have traditionally engaged in retail trade or manufacturing.[18]
Languages
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.[22] English is widely used in administration, law and schools, though less than 2.5%, mainly the white and Coloured (mixed race) minorities, consider it their native language. The rest of the population speak Shona (70%) and Ndebele (20%), Kalanga (2%), etc.[23] Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo, published in 1956.[24] English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas. Television news is broadcast in English, Shona and Ndebele though the local languages time slot falls out of prime viewing time, but radio broadcasts in English, Ndebele, Shona, Kalanga, Nambya, Venda, Suthu and Tonga. English, Ndebele and Shona are given far more airtime.
Christians comprise 85% of the Zimbabwean population. Of that number, 61% regularly attend Christianchurches.[25] The largest Christian churches are Anglican, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist and Methodist. However, like most former European colonies, Christianity is often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. Besides Christianity, ancestral worship (Amadlozi) is the most practised non-Christian religion which involves ancestor worship and spiritual intercession. Under 1% of the population is Muslim, although many Zimbabweans are influenced by Abrahamic food laws.
According to the United NationsWorld Health Organization, the average life expectancy for men in 2006 was 37 years and for women was 34 years of age, the lowest in the world at the time.[26] An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.[27]
Since then it has recovered, and the figures for 2010 to 2015 were 53 and 54 for men and women respectively.[28]
Other demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics of Zimbabwe in 2022 are from the World Population Review.[29]
One birth every 1 minutes
One death every 4 minutes
One net migrant every 7 minutes
Net gain of one person every 2 minutes
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[30]
Population
15,121,004 (2022 est.)
14,030,368 (July 2018 est.)
13,805,084 (July 2017 est.)
Religions
Protestant 74.8% (includes Apostolic 37.5%, Pentecostal 21.8%, other 15.5%), Roman Catholic 7.3%, other Christian 5.3%, traditional 1.5%, Muslim 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 10.5% (2015 est.)
3.51 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 36th
3.89 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 30th
3.97 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 33rd
Official government fertility rates over the past decade were 3.6 (2002 Census),[31] 3.8 (2006 survey also says women actually wanted on average 3.3 children)[32] and 3.8 (2012 Census).[12]
Population growth rate
1.95% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 44th
1.68% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 60th
1.56% (2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20 years (2015 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Contraceptive prevalence rate
66.8% (2015)
Net migration rate
-4.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 200th
-7.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 208th
-8.5 migrants/1,000 population (2017).There is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities.
^The following languages, namely Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa, are the officially recognised languages of Zimbabwe. (CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE (final draft)Archived 2013-10-02 at the Wayback Machine).