Moving to Zimbabwe from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Zimbabwe? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Zimbabwe, and you’d need to navigate life in Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Harare averages 78°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Zimbabwe compared to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland generally does better on environment, though Zimbabwe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Switzerland performs better than Zimbabwe across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Switzerland performs better than Zimbabwe across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Switzerland performs better than Zimbabwe across all family life metrics.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bern | Harare |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Harare |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Meteorological Services Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland and Zimbabwe. To live, work, or study long-term in Zimbabwe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zimbabwe's immigration authority.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Zimbabwe
Visa on Arrival
Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Zimbabwe?
Connectivity is usually fine (Zimbabwe: 1.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Zimbabwe offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Zimbabwe safe for expats?
Switzerland performs better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zimbabwe is 6.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.
How is healthcare in Zimbabwe compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Zimbabwe, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Zimbabwe scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Zimbabwe compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Harare is 78°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Harare receives around 33.1 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Zimbabwe?
The official languages in Zimbabwe are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
Compare further: Switzerland vs. Zimbabwe
At a Glance
CH
|
ZW
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,508,698 | 15,121,004 |
| Currency | Swiss Franc (CHF) | Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) |
| Languages | French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German | Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +41 | +263 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 112 | 999 |