MigrantoZimbabwean Diaspora
1.5M Zimbabweans live abroad — the #52 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 86% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 1072620 |
| United Kingdom | 132869 |
| Mozambique | 101486 |
| Botswana | 67878 |
| Australia | 47195 |
| Malawi | 26561 |
| Zambia | 22297 |
| Namibia | 16053 |
| Canada | 14291 |
| New Zealand | 9140 |
| China | 2913 |
| Portugal | 1476 |
| Italy | 975 |
| Tanzania | 824 |
| Denmark | 486 |
| Greece | 451 |
| Norway | 355 |
| Cyprus | 317 |
| Eritrea | 253 |
| Malta | 184 |
| Finland | 168 |
| Lesotho | 158 |
| Hungary | 114 |
| Luxembourg | 82 |
| Bulgaria | 56 |
| Cayman Islands | 21 |
| Iceland | 20 |
| Slovenia | 20 |
| Bahamas | 15 |
| Venezuela | 12 |
| Estonia | 10 |
| Slovakia | 7 |
| Lithuania | 5 |
| Liechtenstein | 4 |
| Bolivia | 3 |
| Guinea | 2 |
| Latvia | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Saint Lucia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 86%
1.3M
137.3K
56.3K
14.3K
2.9K
317
52
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Zimbabwe.
South Africa is the primary destination for emigrants
South Africa attracts 71% of all emigrants from Zimbabwe, while the second-largest destination receives just 9%.
Emigration has become more concentrated over time
The top destination's share rose from 40% to 71%, with South Africa increasingly the primary choice.
Zambia is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to Zambia has increased by 69% since 2015, rising from 13.2K to 22.3K in 9 years.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 11 residents of Zimbabwe has emigrated — 1.5M out of 16.6M, representing 9.1% of the population.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 221449 |
| 1995 | 272384 |
| 2000 | 321579 |
| 2005 | 543425 |
| 2010 | 931334 |
| 2015 | 1237826 |
| 2020 | 1390279 |
| 2024 | 1519324 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | South Africa | United Kingdom | Mozambique | Botswana | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 89371 | 19291 | 35711 | 4905 | 6744 |
| 1995 | 82695 | 30162 | 49118 | 7917 | 9840 |
| 2000 | 116489 | 46161 | 57131 | 11763 | 12139 |
| 2005 | 253785 | 72839 | 78441 | 33411 | 21657 |
| 2010 | 545405 | 116367 | 89389 | 55306 | 33653 |
| 2015 | 833530 | 126584 | 92671 | 60080 | 40243 |
| 2020 | 966487 | 130091 | 97379 | 64301 | 44036 |
| 2024 | 1072620 | 132869 | 101486 | 67878 | 47195 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Zimbabwe as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Zimbabwe
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Zimbabweans move to?
Most Zimbabweans have moved to South Africa, United Kingdom and Mozambique — these three countries account for about 86% of all Zimbabweans living abroad.
How many Zimbabweans live abroad?
Around 1.5M Zimbabweans live abroad, making it the #52-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Zimbabwe lives abroad?
About 9% of the population of Zimbabwe lives abroad — that's 1.5M out of a total population of 16.6M.
How has emigration from Zimbabwe changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Zimbabwe has grown from 1.2M to 1.5M people, a growth of about 23%.
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