Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 47.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
47.1%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
145th
of 202 countries
All-time high
47.1%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 47.1% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe peaked at 47.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Zimbabwe ranks 145th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.4% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 1.1% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 1.2% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 1.3% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 1.4% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 1.6% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 1.7% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 1.9% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 2.1% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 2.3% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 2.5% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 2.7% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 3.0% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 3.3% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 3.6% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 3.9% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 4.7% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 5.1% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 5.6% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 6.2% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 6.8% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 7.4% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 8.1% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 8.9% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 9.7% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 10.6% | +9.5% |
| 1951 | 10.8% | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 11.0% | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 11.2% | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 11.4% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 11.6% | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 11.8% | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 12.0% | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 12.2% | +1.7% |
| 1959 | 12.4% | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 12.6% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 12.8% | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 13.1% | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 13.6% | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 14.1% | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 14.7% | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 15.2% | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 15.8% | +3.8% |
| 1968 | 16.4% | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 17.0% | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 17.5% | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 17.9% | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 18.4% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 18.9% | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 19.4% | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 19.9% | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 20.3% | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 20.7% | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 21.2% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 21.7% | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 22.3% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 22.8% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 23.3% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 23.9% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 24.7% | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 25.4% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 26.1% | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 26.8% | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 27.6% | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 28.3% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 29.0% | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 29.8% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 30.7% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 31.1% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 31.5% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 31.8% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 32.3% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 32.7% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 33.1% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 33.4% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 33.6% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 34.1% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 34.5% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 35.0% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 35.5% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 35.9% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 36.4% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 36.9% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 37.3% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 38.3% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 38.9% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 39.5% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 40.1% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 40.7% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 41.3% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 41.9% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 42.5% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 43.1% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 43.6% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 44.2% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 44.8% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 45.4% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 45.9% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 46.5% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 47.1% | +1.2% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 47.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.0%, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 47.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.2%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1820s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1830s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1840s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1850s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1860s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1870s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1880s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 1890s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1900s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1910s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
| 1930s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
| 1940s | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 1 |
| 1950s | 11.5% | 10.6% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 14.5% | 12.6% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.6% | 17.5% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.1% | 22.3% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.5% | 29.0% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.7% | 33.6% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.0% | 38.3% | 43.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.7% | 44.2% | 47.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 142 Grenada 47.8% compare
- 143 Central African Republic 47.7% compare
- 144 Sierra Leone 47.2% compare
- 146 Namibia 47.0% compare
- 147 Equatorial Guinea 46.4% compare
- 148 Qatar 46.2% compare
More population data for Zimbabwe
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0209 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0944 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 26,439 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.94 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5219 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 96.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.49 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zimbabwe was 47.1% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Zimbabwe ranks 145th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.