MigrantoZimbabwean Diaspora
1.5M Zimbabweans live abroad — 9% of the population of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 86% of the diaspora
| 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 region
86% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Zimbabwean diaspora in numbers
Most Zimbabweans abroad live in South Africa
71% of the diaspora lives in South Africa, while the next country accounts for just 9%.
The diaspora is more concentrated than in 1990
The largest country's share rose from 40% to 71%, and today that country is South Africa.
The community in Zambia is growing fastest
The number of Zimbabweans living in Zambia has grown 69% since 2015, from 13.2K to 22.3K.
1 in 11 people born in Zimbabwe lives abroad
1.5M people born in Zimbabwe now live in other countries — 9.1% of a population of 16.6M.
Zimbabwean diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 221449 |
| 1995 | 272384 |
| 2000 | 321579 |
| 2005 | 543425 |
| 2010 | 931334 |
| 2015 | 1237826 |
| 2020 | 1390279 |
| 2024 | 1519324 |
Largest communities over time
Zimbabweans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Zimbabweans in each country has changed since the selected year
Zimbabweans among immigrants in other countries
Where Zimbabweans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Zimbabweans live outside Zimbabwe?
Around 1.5M Zimbabweans live abroad, the world's #52 largest diaspora.
Where do most Zimbabweans abroad live?
Most Zimbabweans live in South Africa, United Kingdom and Mozambique — these three countries account for about 86% of all Zimbabweans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Zimbabwean population outside Zimbabwe?
South Africa is home to the largest Zimbabwean community abroad — 1.1M people, about 71% of all Zimbabweans living abroad.
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.
Is the Zimbabwean diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Zimbabweans living abroad has grown from 1.2M to 1.5M, about 23%.
Where does the data on the Zimbabwean diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Zimbabwe who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Zimbabwe
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