Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 40.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 40.5% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe peaked at 40.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1950.
Zimbabwe ranks 184th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.3% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 14.4% | 12.5% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.6% | 17.4% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.4% | 22.3% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.2% | 29.6% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.6% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 32.7% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.9% | 37.0% | 40.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More population data for Zimbabwe
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.67 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.67 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 9,240 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.67 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.72 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.45 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe was 40.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Zimbabwe ranks 184th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.