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Urbanisation alters surface landscape characteristics through conversion of natural landscapes to impervious surfaces. Such changes alter the thermal properties of urban landscape mosaics, increasing the urban heat island intensity and the population’s vulnerability to heat-related stress. This study aimed at deriving detailed area-specific spatial information on the distribution of heat vulnerability in Harare city, Zimbabwe, valuable for informed urban thermal mitigation, planning and decision-making. Using Landsat-8-derived bio-physical surface properties and socio-demographic factors, findings show that vulnerability to heat-related distress was high in over 40 percent of the city, mainly in densely built-up areas with low-income groups. Comparatively, low to moderate heat vulnerability was observed in the high-income northern suburbs with low physical exposure and population density. Results also showed a …