Moving to South Africa from Zimbabwe
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Zimbabwe to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Zimbabwe to South Africa, based on official data.
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
-
1.690,243
Zimbabwe
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zimbabwe generally does better on safety, though South Africa leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Zimbabwe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Zimbabwe generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Zimbabwe leads in water stress level.
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
South Africa generally does better on employment & economy, though Zimbabwe leads in unemployment rate.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Harare | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Harare | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Services Department,
South African Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Zimbabwe passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Free
South Africa passport holder visiting Zimbabwe
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 3.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Zimbabwe generally does better on safety, though South Africa leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.7 in Zimbabwe.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 1.7 in Zimbabwe. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Zimbabwe?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.
Compare further: Zimbabwe vs. South Africa
At a Glance
ZW
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,121,004 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Calling code | +263 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 999 | 10111 |