MigrantoImmigrants in Zimbabwe
308.7K foreigners live in Zimbabwe — 2% of the country's population
Immigrants in Zimbabwe by country
The 3 largest groups make up 88% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Mozambique | 126753 |
| Malawi | 111872 |
| Zambia | 32680 |
| South Africa | 20346 |
| United Kingdom | 13101 |
| Botswana | 3985 |
By region of origin
96% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Zimbabwe in numbers
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 80% to 41%.
Mozambicans are the largest group by a wide margin
41% of all immigrants were born in Mozambique, while the next group accounts for just 36%.
27% of all emigrants from Zambia live in Zimbabwe
No other country has more people born in Zambia.
Immigrant population in Zimbabwe over time
Foreigners living in Zimbabwe, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 604946 |
| 1995 | 393451 |
| 2000 | 361947 |
| 2005 | 319910 |
| 2010 | 286642 |
| 2015 | 288208 |
| 2020 | 299407 |
| 2024 | 308737 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Zimbabwe, by year
| Year | Mozambicans | Malawians | Zambians | South Africans | British |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 482855 | 69618 | 18966 | 11426 | 19136 |
| 1995 | 266322 | 67945 | 22815 | 15313 | 18132 |
| 2000 | 197838 | 92989 | 26337 | 17024 | 23747 |
| 2005 | 145402 | 102211 | 29759 | 19010 | 19394 |
| 2010 | 117799 | 103681 | 30373 | 18910 | 12174 |
| 2015 | 118442 | 104247 | 30538 | 19013 | 12243 |
| 2020 | 122923 | 108491 | 31692 | 19731 | 12705 |
| 2024 | 126753 | 111872 | 32680 | 20346 | 13101 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Zimbabwe
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Zimbabwe
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Zimbabwe?
Around 308.7K immigrants live in Zimbabwe — the world's #98 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Zimbabwe are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 2% of the population of Zimbabwe — that's 308.7K out of a total population of 16.6M.
Where do most immigrants in Zimbabwe come from?
Most immigrants in Zimbabwe come from Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia — these three countries account for about 88% of all immigrants.
How many Mozambicans live in Zimbabwe?
Around 126.8K Mozambicans live in Zimbabwe — about 41% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Zimbabwe growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Zimbabwe has grown from 288.2K to 308.7K, about 7%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Zimbabwe come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Zimbabwe. Their children born in Zimbabwe are not included.
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Living in Zimbabwe
See the full country overview