Zimbabwe Rate of Natural Increase

Zimbabwe’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth and death rates, excluding migration—has remained relatively high in recent years, though it has slowed compared to previous decades. As of 2023, Zimbabwe’s RNI stands at approximately 1.7% per year, reflecting a birth rate of about 29 per 1,000 people and a death rate of around 9 per 1,000. This rate is somewhat lower than that of neighboring Mozambique (about 2.5%) and Zambia (around 2.7%), both of which have higher fertility rates and slightly lower mortality rates. In contrast, South Africa, another neighbor, has a much lower RNI (about 1.0%), due to both lower birth rates and the impact of higher adult mortality, particularly from HIV/AIDS. Botswana’s RNI is also lower than Zimbabwe’s, at about 1.5%, reflecting its successful family planning programs and declining fertility. Overall, Zimbabwe’s RNI is moderate for the region: higher than the more economically developed or urbanized neighbors, but lower than those with higher fertility and less developed health systems.

Data from US Census International Database