Regions of Zimbabwe: population and official figures
Zimbabwe is divided into 10 regions. The largest by population is Harare with 2,427,231 people (16.0% of the total); the smallest is Bulawayo with 665,952. Population figures are from the 2022 Population and Housing Census (ZIMSTAT), the latest count; ZIMSTAT has not published 2026 projections for every province. Each province page adds jobs, housing and child mortality from the census, health, schooling, water and wealth from the 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, the cost of living from ZIMSTAT's monthly Poverty Datum Lines (October 2026) and poverty rates from PICES 2017, the latest provincial poverty survey.
Who governs Zimbabwe's regions?
Provinces (8) and metropolitan provinces (2: Harare, Bulawayo): In practice a Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution appointed by the President; constitutional provincial/metropolitan councils not yet in operation. Coordinates government programmes in the province.
How local power works in Zimbabwe · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 10 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harare | 2,427,231 | 2022 | +1.3% |
| 2 | Manicaland | 2,037,703 | 2022 | +1.5% |
| 3 | Mashonaland West | 1,893,584 | 2022 | +2.3% |
| 4 | Midlands | 1,811,905 | 2022 | +1.2% |
| 5 | Mashonaland East | 1,731,173 | 2022 | +2.5% |
| 6 | Masvingo | 1,638,528 | 2022 | +1.0% |
| 7 | Mashonaland Central | 1,384,891 | 2022 | +1.8% |
| 8 | Matabeleland North | 827,645 | 2022 | +1.0% |
| 9 | Matabeleland South | 760,345 | 2022 | +1.1% |
| 10 | Bulawayo | 665,952 | 2022 | +0.2% |
Cities: the largest cities of Zimbabwe.
More on Zimbabwe: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT): 2022 Population and Housing Census Report (Volume 1): appendix tables by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdebd23be87e…)
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT): 2022-2042 Zimbabwe Population Projections (Table 3.1: national projection by year), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 756d7d32548d…)
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program): Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2023-24: Final Report (province rows of the tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a74a171032f…)
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT): Poverty Datum Lines: Food and Total Consumption Poverty Lines per person per month by province, April 2024 to October 2026, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 49b9d5ceb7eb…)
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT): Zimbabwe Poverty Report 2017 (PICES 2017), Tables 2.7 and 2.8: poverty by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2aeb02bbf4c7…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.