Quick facts
Harare overview
Harare (orange) and the other large cities of Zimbabwe
Harare lies in Zimbabwe at 17.83°S, 31.05°E, about 1,494 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Harare (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Zimbabwe: the next largest cities are Bulawayo (665,952), Mutare (224,802), Gweru (158,200). Together, the three largest cities hold 14% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Harare Western Suburbs, about 19 km away, followed by Ruwa (21 km).
Zimbabwe as a whole has a live population of 17,369,544 (+1.9% a year) and ranks #74 of 238 countries — see the Zimbabwe population page for the full statistics and the Zimbabwe atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Harare
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Harare Western Suburbs Mashonaland West | 19 km | 15,556 |
| Ruwa Mashonaland East Province | 21 km | 94,083 |
| Norton Mashonaland West | 38 km | 87,039 |
| Bindura Mashonaland Central | 65 km | 50,400 |
| Marondera Mashonaland East Province | 66 km | 66,204 |
| Mvurwi Mashonaland Central | 91 km | 15,646 |
| Chegutu Mashonaland West | 102 km | 65,800 |
| Chinhoyi Mashonaland West | 104 km | 90,800 |
Largest cities in Zimbabwe
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HarareCapital | Harare | 1,542,813 |
| 2 | Bulawayo | Bulawayo | 665,952 |
| 3 | Mutare | Manicaland | 224,802 |
| 4 | Gweru | Midlands Province | 158,200 |
| 5 | Kwekwe | Midlands Province | 119,863 |
| 6 | Kadoma | Mashonaland West | 117,381 |
| 7 | Ruwa | Mashonaland East Province | 94,083 |
| 8 | Chinhoyi | Mashonaland West | 90,800 |
| 9 | Masvingo | Masvingo Province | 90,286 |
| 10 | Norton | Mashonaland West | 87,039 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Harare?
Harare has about 1,542,813 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Harare the capital of Zimbabwe?
Yes — Harare is the national capital of Zimbabwe.
How big is Harare compared with the rest of Zimbabwe?
Its 1,542,813 residents are 8.9% of the 17,369,544 people living in Zimbabwe today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Harare?
In Zimbabwe, at latitude -17.83 and longitude 31.05, 1,494 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Harare Western Suburbs (19 km), Ruwa (21 km), Norton (38 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Harare Population 2026 — Zimbabwe. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/zimbabwe/harare/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/zimbabwe/harare/">Harare Population 2026 — Zimbabwe</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.