Kariba Population 2026

Kariba has a population of 27,600, making it the #25 biggest city in 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe, located in Mashonaland West. Roughly 0.2% of Zimbabwe's population lives here. It is about 56× smaller than Harare, the country's biggest city.

Location of Kariba (capital Harare shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

27,600

Rank in Zimbabwe

#25

Coordinates

16.52°S, 28.80°E

~679 m elevation · Africa/Harare

Distance to capital (Harare)

280 km

174 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Mashonaland West

City	Population	Rank in Zimbabwe
Kadoma	117,381	#7
Chinhoyi	90,800	#9
Norton	87,039	#11
Chegutu	65,800	#13
Karoi	37,564	#21
Harare Western Suburbs	15,556	#29

Cities near Kariba

Karoi37,564 people · ~101 km away
Chinhoyi90,800 people · ~176 km away
Gokwe33,073 people · ~188 km away
Mvurwi15,646 people · ~226 km away
Chegutu65,800 people · ~229 km away
Kadoma117,381 people · ~234 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Kariba?

Kariba has a population of 27,600 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #25 biggest city in Zimbabwe.

What region is Kariba in?

Kariba is located in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe.

Is Kariba the capital of Zimbabwe?

No, the capital of Zimbabwe is Harare, about 280 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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