What Languages Do They Speak In Zimbabwe?
Explore the languages spoken in Zimbabwe on an interactive map.
Zimbabwe Languages: Quick Facts
Languages
11
Shona, Chewa, Venda, Sena, English, Southern Soho, Ndebele, Tswana, Tonga, Xhosa, Tsonga
Population
15,990,000
Cost of living
~ $1280
Index: 25.6
Safety / crime index
Crime Index: 60.6
Language Spoken in Zimbabwe Percentage
| Language | Percentage | Population |
|---|---|---|
ShonaOfficial | 80.9% | 12,935,910 |
NdebeleOfficial | 11.5% | 1,838,850 |
EnglishOfficial | 0.3% | 47,970 |
Do They Speak English in Zimbabwe?
English proficiency
English is treated as native-level in this dataset.
In short
English is widely usable across Zimbabwe. In major cities, business settings, and most day-to-day situations, you can usually rely on English comfortably.
FAQ
Zimbabwe Language FAQ
Short answers to common questions about the main languages, English usage, and communication in Zimbabwe.
People in Zimbabwe speak Shona, Chewa, Venda, Sena, English, Southern Soho, Ndebele, Tswana, Tonga, Xhosa, Tsonga.
Shona is the most widely spoken language.
Shona is spoken by about 80.9% of the population in Zimbabwe.
That corresponds to roughly 12,935,910 people.
Yes. English works across most of Zimbabwe for everyday life, work, and travel.
- What languages do they speak in Zimbabwe?
People in Zimbabwe speak Shona, Chewa, Venda, Sena, English, Southern Soho, Ndebele, Tswana, Tonga, Xhosa, Tsonga.
Shona is the most widely spoken language.
- How widely spoken is Shona in Zimbabwe?
Shona is spoken by about 80.9% of the population in Zimbabwe.
That corresponds to roughly 12,935,910 people.
- Can you get by with English in Zimbabwe?
Yes. English works across most of Zimbabwe for everyday life, work, and travel.
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