In the title compound, [Zn(C(13)H(9)O(3))(2)(C(12)H(8)N(2))], the Zn(II) atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and has a distorted tetra-hedral coordination with two N atoms from the phenanthroline ligand arranged around the twofold axis and two O atoms from two symmetry-related 4'-hy-droxy-biphenyl-4-carboxyl-ate ligands. The mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a chain developing parallel to [101].