Only 48% Of Zimbabwean Men Are Married Or Living With A Partner – ZimStat Data Shocks Nation
Less than half of Zimbabwean men aged between 15 and 49 are married or living with a partner, according to new data released by ZimStat. The findings are fuelling fresh debates about the growing popularity of informal relationships—often referred to as “smallhouses”—and shifting social norms around marriage.
The statistics are part of the 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), launched in Harare on 2 June 2025, and paint a detailed portrait of Zimbabwe’s changing family structures.
“Only 48 percent of men are currently married or cohabiting,” reads the report.
“A striking 45 percent of men in the same age group have never been married.”
By contrast, 62 percent of women in the same age group are in a union, suggesting that many women are in relationships where formal marriage is either absent or unclear—prompting questions about polygamy, smallhouses, and informal unions.
A marriage gap too wide to ignore
The ZDHS confirms a significant gender gap in marital status, with nearly double the number of men never having married compared to women.
“Notably, 45 percent of men aged 15 to 49 have never married, compared to just 23 percent of women,” the report adds.
ZimStat Director General, Mr Tafadzwa Bandama, said the figures were more than just numbers.
“These findings reflect changing relationship trends and gender dynamics. This data gives policymakers insight into evolving social behaviours,” he said.
Social commentators say the figures may help explain the increasing normalisation of smallhouse arrangements and long-term cohabitation without formal marriage.
Marriage registration remains low
Among those who are married, very few have formalised their unions through civil registration. The data revealed a sharp urban-rural divide:
“In urban areas, 16 percent of women have registered their marriages. In rural areas, that number falls to just four percent,” the report states.
“Nationwide, only nine percent of currently married women have registered marriages with civil authorities.”
This could point to multiple factors—including economic hardships, reluctance to follow traditional lobola practices, or a growing preference for non-formal unions.
Young intimacy, high mortality, and urgent questions
The survey also gave insight into the sexual behaviours of Zimbabwean men.
“Three percent of men aged 25-49 had their first sexual experience before the age of 15,” ZimStat noted.
“By age 20, over half of men—51 percent—had already engaged in sexual intercourse.”
At the same time, the country continues to face health challenges. The under-five mortality rate has decreased from 102 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1999 to 69 deaths today. But infant mortality has risen—from 50 in 2015 to 56 deaths per 1,000 live births in the 2023-24 period. The neonatal mortality rate, at 37 deaths per 1,000, is now the highest on record.
Dr Stephen Banda, representing Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze, said the findings were critical for national planning:
“This data is very important to policymakers and programme managers… It helps in the review of the National Health Strategy 2021–2025.”
Despite the challenges, there have been gains:
“We are encouraged by improvements in contraceptive use, child nutrition, and a reduction in maternal mortality,” said Mr Bandama.
But with nearly half of the male population of reproductive age unmarried and only nine percent of marriages formalised, many are now asking:
Is Zimbabwe’s idea of marriage being quietly redefined?
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The post Why So Many Smallhouses? – Only 48% Of Eligible Zimbabwean Men Are Married Or Living With A Partner appeared first on iHarare News.
