Zimbabwe Population Live (2026)
The live population of Zimbabwe, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the most interesting countries on Earth.
Zimbabwe has an estimated population of about 15.2 million people in 2026 — 0.18% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 51st largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Zimbabwe's latest birth rate (28.5 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (6.8 per 1,000).
Is the population of Zimbabwe growing?
Yes. Around 1,185 babies are born in Zimbabwe every day — about 49 an hour — while around 283 people die. That leaves a natural increase of roughly 902 people a day, or about 329,384 a year: a growth rate of 2.17% before migration. At that pace the population would double in roughly 32 years. Zimbabwe has the 10th fastest natural growth of the 72 countries we track.
A birth rate of 28.5 per 1,000 people is well above the world average of about 16.9, which means a large share of the population is made up of children and young adults. It ranks 8th of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
Migration also plays a role. Large numbers of people from Zimbabwe live and work abroad, so the real population change can be a little smaller than the natural increase shown here. Our counter shows births minus deaths only.
Births and deaths in Zimbabwe
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Per hour | 49 | 12 | 38 |
| Per day | 1,185 | 283 | 902 |
| Per week | 8,296 | 1,980 | 6,317 |
| Per year | 432,601 | 103,217 | 329,384 |
How crowded is Zimbabwe?
With about 15.2 million people living on 390,757 km², Zimbabwe has roughly 38.8 people per square kilometre. That is below the world average of about 61 per km², so there is more land per person than in crowded countries such as Bangladesh, the Netherlands or India.
Life expectancy in Zimbabwe
A baby born in Zimbabwe today can expect to live about 61.2 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is well below the world average (70th of 72). Higher child mortality, infectious disease and limited healthcare pull the average down — although life expectancy has been rising. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $1,487 per person (65th of 72), Zimbabwe is a lower-income country. As incomes, education and access to healthcare rise, birth rates almost always fall — which is why the UN expects growth here to slow over the coming decades.
Zimbabwe at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 15,178,979 | 51 |
| Births per day | 1,185 | 39 |
| Deaths per day | 283 | 56 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 28.5 | 8 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 6.8 | 40 |
| Natural growth rate | 2.17% / year | 10 |
| Life expectancy | 61.2 years | 70 |
| Population density | 38.8 / km² | 54 |
| GDP per person | $1,487 | 65 |
| Area | 390,757 km² | — |
| Capital | Harare | — |
| Languages | 16 official langs | — |
| Currency | Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Zimbabwe's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Zimbabwe's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Zimbabwe in 2026?
The population of Zimbabwe in 2026 is estimated at about 15.2 million people, which is around 0.18% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Zimbabwe every day?
About 1,185 babies are born in Zimbabwe every day — roughly 49 per hour, or 432,601 per year — based on a birth rate of 28.5 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Zimbabwe every day?
About 283 people die in Zimbabwe every day — roughly 12 per hour, or 103,217 per year — based on a death rate of 6.8 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Zimbabwe growing or shrinking?
Growing. Births exceed deaths by about 902 people a day, a natural growth rate of 2.17% a year before migration.
What is the life expectancy in Zimbabwe?
Life expectancy at birth in Zimbabwe is about 61.2 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Zimbabwe population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Zimbabwe's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.