Capital of Zimbabwe: Harare — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare. Zimbabwe sits in Africa, has a population of 16,320,537, and uses the ZWL. Official languages include English, Shona, Ndebele.
Quick facts
- Capital: Harare
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~16,320,537
- Area: 390,757 km²
- Population density: 41.8 people per km²
- Official languages: English, Shona, Ndebele
- Currency: ZWL
- ISO code: ZW
How big is Zimbabwe?
By population, Zimbabwe ranks 74th in the world, holding roughly 0.21% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 60th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Zimbabwe has 41.8 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.4 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Zimbabwe is the 26th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Zimbabwe in population are Cambodia (16,767,842) and Senegal (17,316,449).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Norway (385,207 km²) and Japan (377,975 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.
Zimbabwe uses the ZWL, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Zimbabwe
Harare, nicknamed 'Sunshine City', was founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury. The country's name comes from the Shona for 'houses of stones', and the bird on the flag is based on a soapstone bird statue found at the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.
The flag of Zimbabwe: green, yellow, red, black and white
🇿🇼 The flag is seven horizontal stripes of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow and green, with a black-edged white triangle holding a yellow bird on a red star. Green stands for farming, yellow for mineral wealth, red for the blood shed for independence and black for the people. White stands for peace, and the bird for the country's long history.
Region and neighbours
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It shares land borders with 4 countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. Zimbabwe is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.
- South Africa 🇿🇦 — capital Pretoria
- Botswana 🇧🇼 — capital Gaborone
- Zambia 🇿🇲 — capital Lusaka
- Mozambique 🇲🇿 — capital Maputo
Three facts about Zimbabwe
- Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest and most spectacular waterfalls, is in the far northwest of Zimbabwe.
- Zimbabwe has 16 official languages.
- From the 11th century the Shona people built the stone city of Great Zimbabwe.
Sources: Wikipedia: Zimbabwe, Wikipedia: Flag of Zimbabwe, Wikipedia: Harare, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Zimbabwe
- African capitals quiz — match Zimbabwe to Harare
- African flags quiz — spot the Zimbabwe flag among its neighbours
- Landlocked countries quiz — Zimbabwe has no sea coast
Zimbabwe capital quiz
What is the capital of Zimbabwe 🇿🇼?
- Mbabane
- Harare
- Antananarivo
- Conakry
Show answer
Harare
What is the capital of Senegal 🇸🇳?
- Dakar
- Harare
- Moroni
- Bamako
Show answer
Dakar
What is the capital of Somalia 🇸🇴?
- Maseru
- Nairobi
- Praia
- Mogadishu
Show answer
Mogadishu
What is the capital of Chad 🇹🇩?
- Victoria
- Moroni
- N'Djamena
- Tunis
Show answer
N'Djamena
What is the capital of Guinea 🇬🇳?
- Kinshasa
- Harare
- Conakry
- Algiers
Show answer
Conakry
Zimbabwe in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Zimbabwe belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Zimbabwe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Zimbabwe?
The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare.
What is the population of Zimbabwe?
About 16,320,537, making it the 74th most populous country in the world.
How big is Zimbabwe?
390,757 square kilometres, ranking 60th by land area, at a density of 41.8 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Zimbabwe use?
The ZWL, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Zimbabwe flag?
The flag of Zimbabwe is seven horizontal stripes of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow and green, with a black-edged white triangle holding a yellow bird on a red star. Green stands for farming, yellow for mineral wealth, red for the blood shed for independence and black for the people. White stands for peace, and the bird for the country's long history.
Which countries border Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe shares land borders with South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique.
How can I remember the capital of Zimbabwe?
Harare, nicknamed 'Sunshine City', was founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury. The country's name comes from the Shona for 'houses of stones', and the bird on the flag is based on a soapstone bird statue found at the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.
More capitals to learn
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