Zimbabwe has experienced significant population growth over the past several decades. In 1980, at the time of independence, the population was around 7.5 million. Since then, it has steadily increased, reaching approximately 16.7 million by 2022, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency. This growth has been influenced by factors such as high birth rates, declining mortality rates, and periods of migration due to economic and political challenges. Despite emigration, especially during times of economic hardship, the overall population trend has remained upward. The country’s youthful demographic structure, with a large proportion of the population under the age of 25, suggests that population growth is likely to continue in the coming decades, presenting both opportunities and challenges for development and resource management.
Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
---|---|---|
1950 | 2,853,151 | 7.4 |
1955 | 3,409,017 | 8.8 |
1960 | 4,010,933 | 10.4 |
1965 | 4,685,272 | 12.1 |
1970 | 5,514,536 | 14.3 |
1975 | 6,341,797 | 16.4 |
1980 | 7,169,968 | 18.5 |
1985 | 8,548,242 | 22.1 |
1990 | 10,108,319 | 26.1 |
1995 | 11,155,781 | 28.8 |
2000 | 12,047,427 | 31.1 |
2005 | 12,270,970 | 31.7 |
2010 | 12,721,852 | 32.9 |
2015 | 13,415,831 | 34.7 |
2020 | 14,546,146 | 37.6 |
2022 | 15,121,004 | 39.1 |
2023 | 15,418,674 | 39.9 |
2024 | 15,721,972 | 40.6 |
2025 | 16,030,110 | 41.4 |
2030 | 17,627,637 | 45.6 |
2035 | 19,323,074 | 50 |
2040 | 21,114,947 | 54.6 |
2045 | 22,963,762 | 59.4 |
2050 | 24,837,643 | 64.2 |
2055 | 26,720,636 | 69.1 |
2060 | 28,588,118 | 73.9 |
2065 | 30,386,812 | 78.5 |
2070 | 32,074,971 | 82.9 |
2075 | 33,623,536 | 86.9 |
2080 | 35,009,951 | 90.5 |
2085 | 36,212,292 | 93.6 |
2090 | 37,205,378 | 96.2 |
2095 | 37,958,886 | 98.1 |
2100 | 38,439,667 | 99.4 |
Data from US Census International Database