# Demographics of Zimbabwe

Demographic features of the population of Zimbabwe include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

## Population

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.
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

### Census data
#### Historical data of Southern Rhodesia

Census :
| Year | Black | White | Coloured | Asian |
| 1911 | 744,558 | 23,606 | 2,912 | |
| 1921 | 862,319 | 33,620 | 1,998 | 1,250 |
Estimates :
| Year | Black | White |
| 1890 | 700,000 | |
| 1910 | 900,000 | 20,000 |
| 1927 | 922,000 | 38,200 |
| 1930 | 1,300,000 | |
| 1945 | 1,400,000? | 140,000 |
| 1946 | 1,640,000 | 80,500 |

### Current estimates

Based on the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects, 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.
| | 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):
| 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.
| 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) |||||||||||

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | CBR (Total) | TFR (Total) | CBR (Urban) | TFR (Urban) | CBR (Rural) | TFR (Rural) |
| 1982–1984 | | 6.66 | | 5.33 | | 7.28 |
| 1985–1988 | | 5.31 | | 3.86 | | 6.06 |
| 1994 | 31.6 | 4.29 (3.5) | 30.5 | 3.09 (2.6) | 32.0 | 4.85 (3.9) |
| 1999 | 30.8 | 3.96 (3.4) | 31.3 | 2.96 (2.6) | 30.5 | 4.57 (3.8) |
| 2005–2006 | 31.0 | 3.8 (3.3) | 28.5 | 2.6 (2.3) | 32.0 | 4.6 (3.9) |
| 2010–2011 | 34 | 4.1 (3.4) | 34 | 3.1 (2.7) | 34 | 4.8 (4.0) |
| 2015 | 32.0 | 4.0 (3.6) | 31.1 | 3.0 (2.7) | 32.7 | 4.7 (4.1) |
| 2023-24 | 28.9 | 3.9 | 28.4 | 3.1 | 29.4 | 4.6 |
Fertility data as of 2010–2011 (DHS Program):
| Province | Total fertility rate | Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant | Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 |
| Manicaland | 4.8 | 8.8 | 4.9 |
| Mashonaland Central | 4.5 | 9.1 | 5.0 |
| Mashonaland East | 4.5 | 7.3 | 4.2 |
| Mashonaland West | 4.5 | 8.5 | 5.0 |
| Matabeleland North | 4.1 | 7.7 | 5.2 |
| Matabeleland South | 4.2 | 6.6 | 4.6 |
| Midlands | 4.2 | 7.6 | 4.8 |
| Masvingo | 4.7 | 11.1 | 4.6 |
| Harare | 3.1 | 8.4 | 3.5 |
| Bulawayo | 2.8 | 4.8 | 3.2 |

### Life expectancy at birth

Life expectancy from 1950 to 2021 (UN World Population Prospects):
| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 48.54 |
| 1955–1960 | 50.59 |
| 1960–1965 | 52.48 |
| 1965–1970 | 54.13 |
| 1970–1975 | 55.78 |
| 1975–1980 | 57.84 |
| 1980–1985 | 60.54 |
| 1985–1990 | 60.18 |
| 1990–1995 | 54.66 |
| 1995–2000 | 47.35 |
| 2000–2005 | 44.13 |
| 2005–2010 | 48.35 |
| 2010–2015 | 57.64 |
| 2020 | 61.12 |
| 2021 | 59.25 |

## Ethnic groups

According to 2012 Census report, 99.6% of the population is of African origin. Of the rest of the population, the great bulk—perhaps 30,000 persons—are White Zimbabweans of European ancestry, a minority which had diminished in size prior to independence.
The vast black majority has grown at a projected annual rate of 4.3% since 1980. 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. Of the two major ethnolinguistic categories, Shona speakers formed a decisive plurality at (80<)% and occupied the eastern two-thirds of Zimbabwe. Ndebele speakers constitute about 16%, and none of the other indigenous ethnic groups came to as much as 2% in recent decades. African speakers of nonindigenous languages included migrant workers from Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique.
Over 90% of White Zimbabweans are of British or British diasporan origin; at various times, many emigrated from South Africa and elsewhere. After World War II, Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) received a substantial influx of emigrants from the United Kingdom—a handful previously resided in other colonies such as India, Pakistan and Kenya. Also represented on a much smaller scale were individuals of Afrikaner, Greek, and Portuguese origin. After Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965, Ian Smith's administration removed technical obstacles to immigration from southern Europe.
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.

## Languages

Zimbabwe has 16 official languages: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa. 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. Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo, published in 1956. 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.

## Religion

Christians comprise 85% of the Zimbabwean population. Of that number, 61% regularly attend Christian churches. 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.