The invention relates to a water-based zinc-manganese single flow battery; a positive electrode active material is an oxide of manganese, a metal composite oxide, a metal oxide or a carbon material, a negative electrode is a zinc electrode, an electrolyte solution is a nearly neutral aqueous solution containing a zinc salt and a manganese salt, positive electrode active ions and negative electrode active ions can coexist in one electrolyte solution, and an ion exchange membrane is not required for separating the positive electrode and the negative electrode; in processes of charging and discharging, the electrolyte solution constantly flows between an electrolyte solution storage tank and an electric pile through a pipeline under pushing of a liquid pump. During charging, zinc ions are deposited onto a negative electrode current collector from the electrolyte solution, the zinc ions and manganese ions are co-embedded into the positive electrode active substance at the same time, and the manganese ions are subjected to oxidation deposition; during discharging, the negative electrode deposited zinc is dissolved into the electrolyte solution, and the positive electrode manganese oxide is partially reduced and dissolved and is extricated to the electrolyte solution with the zinc ions simultaneously. The battery has the outstanding characteristics of simple manufacture, relatively high specific energy and specific power, low cost, long cycle life, environmental friendly and the like, and is widely applied in electric power, transportation, electronics and other fields.