Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 21.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Zimbabwe, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 21.8% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
The figure is down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Zimbabwe peaked at 24.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1950.
That places Zimbabwe 170th out of 236 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 population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.8% | — |
| 1955 | 9.3% | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 10.3% | +10.7% |
| 1965 | 11.4% | +10.5% |
| 1970 | 12.4% | +9.3% |
| 1975 | 13.2% | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 13.3% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 15.5% | +16.1% |
| 1990 | 20.1% | +30.2% |
| 1995 | 22.2% | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 23.3% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 22.9% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 24.7% | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 24.5% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 21.8% | -11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.1% | 8.8% | 9.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 10.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 12.8% | 12.4% | 13.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.4% | 13.3% | 15.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 21.2% | 20.1% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.1% | 22.9% | 23.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 24.6% | 24.5% | 24.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 21.8% | 21.8% | 21.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 167 Luxembourg 22.7% compare
- 168 Republic of Moldova 22.3% compare
- 169 Czechia 22.2% compare
- 171 Martinique 21.6% compare
- 172 Namibia 20.5% compare
- 173 Cambodia 19.8% compare
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 population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Zimbabwe?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Zimbabwe was 21.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 24.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Zimbabwe ranks 170th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.