Net migration in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Net migration was -54,555 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Zimbabwe, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Zimbabwe is -54,555, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.9% on the previous year and up 66.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Zimbabwe peaked at 390,593 in 1980 and was at its lowest, -243,947, in 1993.
That places Zimbabwe 197th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -8,260 | — |
| 1961 | -8,204 | -0.7% |
| 1962 | -8,529 | +4.0% |
| 1963 | -8,936 | +4.8% |
| 1964 | -9,631 | +7.8% |
| 1965 | -10,465 | +8.7% |
| 1966 | -11,211 | +7.1% |
| 1967 | -11,814 | +5.4% |
| 1968 | -11,997 | +1.5% |
| 1969 | -12,028 | +0.3% |
| 1970 | -24,102 | +100.4% |
| 1971 | -22,719 | -5.7% |
| 1972 | -20,959 | -7.7% |
| 1973 | -18,733 | -10.6% |
| 1974 | -16,105 | -14.0% |
| 1975 | -28,988 | +80.0% |
| 1976 | -32,495 | +12.1% |
| 1977 | -89,270 | +174.7% |
| 1978 | -170,727 | +91.2% |
| 1979 | -67,937 | -60.2% |
| 1980 | 390,593 | -674.9% |
| 1981 | 11,523 | -97.0% |
| 1982 | 32,899 | +185.5% |
| 1983 | 4,456 | -86.5% |
| 1984 | 5,124 | +15.0% |
| 1985 | 4,718 | -7.9% |
| 1986 | 6,154 | +30.4% |
| 1987 | 21,308 | +246.2% |
| 1988 | 11,327 | -46.8% |
| 1989 | 3,736 | -67.0% |
| 1990 | 4,948 | +32.4% |
| 1991 | 3,749 | -24.2% |
| 1992 | 75,788 | +1921.6% |
| 1993 | -243,947 | -421.9% |
| 1994 | -174,723 | -28.4% |
| 1995 | -45,428 | -74.0% |
| 1996 | 978 | -102.2% |
| 1997 | 395 | -59.6% |
| 1998 | 6,645 | +1582.3% |
| 1999 | -86,343 | -1399.4% |
| 2000 | -165,181 | +91.3% |
| 2001 | -139,361 | -15.6% |
| 2002 | -101,212 | -27.4% |
| 2003 | -96,667 | -4.5% |
| 2004 | -127,550 | +31.9% |
| 2005 | -134,212 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | -57,257 | -57.3% |
| 2007 | -118,299 | +106.6% |
| 2008 | -113,858 | -3.8% |
| 2009 | -108,689 | -4.5% |
| 2010 | -108,671 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -108,714 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | -177,061 | +62.9% |
| 2013 | -176,972 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | -177,029 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | -162,220 | -8.4% |
| 2016 | -140,181 | -13.6% |
| 2017 | -128,241 | -8.5% |
| 2018 | -117,758 | -8.2% |
| 2019 | -103,107 | -12.4% |
| 2020 | -89,440 | -13.3% |
| 2021 | -74,623 | -16.6% |
| 2022 | -102,828 | +37.8% |
| 2023 | -97,380 | -5.3% |
| 2024 | -60,528 | -37.8% |
| 2025 | -54,555 | -9.9% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's -54,555 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 5.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's -54,555 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 9.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +1921.6% | 3,749 | 75,788 |
| 1998 | +1582.3% | 395 | 6,645 |
| 1999 | -1399.4% | 6,645 | -86,343 |
| 1980 | +674.9% | -67,937 | 390,593 |
| 1993 | -421.9% | 75,788 | -243,947 |
| 1987 | +246.2% | 6,154 | 21,308 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -10,108 | -12,028 | -8,204 | 10 |
| 1970s | -49,204 | -170,727 | -16,105 | 10 |
| 1980s | 49,184 | 3,736 | 390,593 | 10 |
| 1990s | -45,794 | -243,947 | 75,788 | 10 |
| 2000s | -116,229 | -165,181 | -57,257 | 10 |
| 2010s | -139,995 | -177,061 | -103,107 | 10 |
| 2020s | -79,892 | -102,828 | -54,555 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More financial sector data for Zimbabwe
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0265 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0194 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0265 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Zimbabwe?
- Net migration in Zimbabwe was -54,555 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 390,593 in 1980.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was -243,947 in 1993.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for net migration?
- Zimbabwe ranks 197th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.