Zimbabwe’s population growth rose to 1.9% y/y in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. No direction is better or worse in itself for this measure, because the right pace depends on whether an economy can create jobs, housing and services at the same speed. Faster growth can mean a larger future workforce and a bigger domestic market, while also adding pressure on schools, clinics and land. The latest figure for 2025 is 1.9% y/y, up from 1.8% y/y a year earlier, a rise of 0.1 percentage points. That is the highest reading since 2016, when growth stood at 1.4% y/y, the lowest in the window.

Why it matters. At 1.9% y/y, Zimbabwe adds people faster than at any point since 2016, so demand grows for classrooms, health services, water and housing. Households feel it in crowded services and a larger pool of young people looking for work. Firms see a growing customer base and labour supply, and the state needs to expand public services and jobs to keep pace.