Harare vs Johannesburg

Harare leads Johannesburg by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 68 to 67. Harare grades better on 5 measures, Johannesburg on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Harare 68, Johannesburg 67
• OECD: Harare 61, Johannesburg 64
• UN Tourism: Harare 61, Johannesburg 63
• UNDRR: Harare 51, Johannesburg 57

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Harare 75, Johannesburg 63
• Economy and jobs: Harare 50, Johannesburg 50
• Climate and hazards: Harare 75, Johannesburg 70
• Water and environment: Harare 56, Johannesburg 63
• Community and housing: Harare 100, Johannesburg 92
• Access and continuity: Harare 42, Johannesburg 54

Where Harare is stronger

• Unemployment rate: 9.3 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Country disaster risk: 4.9 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 3.5 and 5: grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 55 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (WHO Data / UN-Water SDG 6.3.1 Monitoring, 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Judicial Service Commission / Parliament of Zimbabwe, Tourism Act, 2026). Grade 2/4.

Where Johannesburg is stronger

• Income per head: 15,906 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 15,000 and 30,000: grade 1/4.
• Green space: 42 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), Gautrain Management Agency, and SANRAL, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (South Africa Department of Tourism & Joburg Tourism, 2025–2026). Grade 1/4.
• Government effectiveness: 45.8 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 40 and 60: grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Zimbabwe: #101 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• South Africa: #61 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Harare in full · Johannesburg in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot