Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 33.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban 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 33.6% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe peaked at 38.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 1950.
That places Zimbabwe 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.1% | — |
| 1955 | 24.8% | +7.4% |
| 1960 | 26.7% | +7.3% |
| 1965 | 28.7% | +7.6% |
| 1970 | 30.9% | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 33.1% | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 33.7% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 34.7% | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 36.8% | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 37.7% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 38.1% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 37.0% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 36.9% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 35.9% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 33.6% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 27.7% | 26.7% | 28.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.0% | 30.9% | 33.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 34.2% | 33.7% | 34.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 37.3% | 36.8% | 37.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.5% | 37.0% | 38.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.4% | 35.9% | 36.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 33.6% | 33.6% | 33.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.1903 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8086 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.5886 °C (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 60,892 (2025)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 60,892 (2025)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 60,892 (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.68 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.7408 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
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 33.6% 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 urban and rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Zimbabwe ranks 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. 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 urban 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 urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.