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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.67 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 9,240 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.67 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.67 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.3% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.72 live births per woman (2023)
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.