Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 1.88 million people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Zimbabwe, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 1.88 million people for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Zimbabwe peaked at 2.03 million people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1950.
That places Zimbabwe 90th out of 182 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0 people | — |
| 1955 | 0 people | — |
| 1960 | 0 people | — |
| 1965 | 0 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 people | — |
| 1975 | 0 people | — |
| 1980 | 0 people | — |
| 1985 | 0 people | — |
| 1990 | 1.25 million people | — |
| 1995 | 1.55 million people | +23.9% |
| 2000 | 1.75 million people | +13.0% |
| 2005 | 1.84 million people | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 1.96 million people | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 2.03 million people | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.88 million people | -7.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 1.88 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.42 million people, 78% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 1.88 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.88 million people, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.40 million people | 1.25 million people | 1.55 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.79 million people | 1.75 million people | 1.84 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.99 million people | 1.96 million people | 2.03 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Zimbabwe?
- Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Zimbabwe was 1.88 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 2.03 million people in 2015.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Zimbabwe ranks 90th out of 182 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.