Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 36.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Zimbabwe, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 36.1% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
That represents a change of down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Zimbabwe peaked at 39.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 1950.
That places Zimbabwe 51st out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.1% | — |
| 1955 | 24.0% | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 24.2% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 24.2% | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 24.3% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 24.4% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 24.4% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 27.9% | +14.5% |
| 1990 | 33.5% | +19.8% |
| 1995 | 37.5% | +11.9% |
| 2000 | 38.6% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 39.8% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 39.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 39.2% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 36.1% | -7.9% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 36.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.9%, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 36.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.9%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 23.6% | 23.1% | 24.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.2% | 24.2% | 24.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 24.4% | 24.3% | 24.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 26.2% | 24.4% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 35.5% | 33.5% | 37.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 39.2% | 38.6% | 39.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.4% | 39.2% | 39.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 36.1% | 36.1% | 36.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More population data for Zimbabwe
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0944 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.49 million people (2100)
- Population density 96.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5219 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.94 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Zimbabwe?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Zimbabwe was 36.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 39.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Zimbabwe ranks 51st out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.