Urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Urban area over the long-term was 2,675 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,675 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
46th
of 202 countries
All-time high
2,675 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.001 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe is 2,675 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe peaked at 2,675 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.001 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Zimbabwe ranks 46th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.001 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0029 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0087 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0262 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0787 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.4719 km² per grid cell | +500.0% |
| 1600 | 1.54 km² per grid cell | +225.5% |
| 1700 | 4.97 km² per grid cell | +223.5% |
| 1710 | 5.79 km² per grid cell | +16.6% |
| 1720 | 6.56 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1730 | 7.42 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1740 | 8.38 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1750 | 9.46 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1760 | 10.67 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1770 | 12.03 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1780 | 13.54 km² per grid cell | +12.6% |
| 1790 | 15.23 km² per grid cell | +12.5% |
| 1800 | 17.13 km² per grid cell | +12.4% |
| 1810 | 19.25 km² per grid cell | +12.4% |
| 1820 | 21.61 km² per grid cell | +12.3% |
| 1830 | 24.25 km² per grid cell | +12.2% |
| 1840 | 27.2 km² per grid cell | +12.2% |
| 1850 | 30.49 km² per grid cell | +12.1% |
| 1860 | 36.92 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1870 | 44.71 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1880 | 54.15 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1890 | 65.58 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1900 | 79.42 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1910 | 102.39 km² per grid cell | +28.9% |
| 1920 | 130.79 km² per grid cell | +27.7% |
| 1930 | 176.3 km² per grid cell | +34.8% |
| 1940 | 234.49 km² per grid cell | +33.0% |
| 1950 | 325.07 km² per grid cell | +38.6% |
| 1951 | 336.91 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 348.79 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 360.44 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1954 | 371.71 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 382.45 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 392.52 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 401.81 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 410.32 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 417.97 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 424.81 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1961 | 430.82 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 437.48 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 450.95 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 463.85 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 476.05 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 487.67 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 498.88 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 509.91 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 520.38 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 527.93 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 533.74 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 541.3 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 550.19 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 560.02 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 568.79 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 575.93 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 584.25 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 595.15 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 610.38 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 631.17 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 650.2 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 674.95 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 707.65 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 745.21 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 786.5 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 830.92 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 879.62 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 932.09 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 986.25 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 1,040 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 1,100 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 1,157 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 1,196 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 1,232 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 1,268 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 1,310 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 1,351 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 1,391 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 1,429 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 1,462 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 1,505 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 1,549 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 1,595 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 1,643 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 1,696 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 1,752 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 1,813 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 1,879 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 1,951 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 1,827 km² per grid cell | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 1,877 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 1,928 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 1,979 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 2,114 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 2,168 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 2,222 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 2,278 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 2,333 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 2,385 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 2,438 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 2,485 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 2,533 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 2,580 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 2,627 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 2,675 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 2,675 km² per grid cell is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 3.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 2,675 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 3.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | +500.0% | 0.0787 km² per grid cell | 0.4719 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +225.5% | 0.4719 km² per grid cell | 1.54 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +223.5% | 1.54 km² per grid cell | 4.97 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.0029 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0029 km² per grid cell | 0.0087 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0087 km² per grid cell | 0.0262 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0029 km² per grid cell | 0.0029 km² per grid cell | 0.0029 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0087 km² per grid cell | 0.0087 km² per grid cell | 0.0087 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0262 km² per grid cell | 0.0262 km² per grid cell | 0.0262 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0787 km² per grid cell | 0.0787 km² per grid cell | 0.0787 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.4719 km² per grid cell | 0.4719 km² per grid cell | 0.4719 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.54 km² per grid cell | 1.54 km² per grid cell | 1.54 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 4.97 km² per grid cell | 4.97 km² per grid cell | 4.97 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 5.79 km² per grid cell | 5.79 km² per grid cell | 5.79 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 6.56 km² per grid cell | 6.56 km² per grid cell | 6.56 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 7.42 km² per grid cell | 7.42 km² per grid cell | 7.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 8.38 km² per grid cell | 8.38 km² per grid cell | 8.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 9.46 km² per grid cell | 9.46 km² per grid cell | 9.46 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 10.67 km² per grid cell | 10.67 km² per grid cell | 10.67 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 12.03 km² per grid cell | 12.03 km² per grid cell | 12.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 13.54 km² per grid cell | 13.54 km² per grid cell | 13.54 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 15.23 km² per grid cell | 15.23 km² per grid cell | 15.23 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 17.13 km² per grid cell | 17.13 km² per grid cell | 17.13 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 19.25 km² per grid cell | 19.25 km² per grid cell | 19.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 21.61 km² per grid cell | 21.61 km² per grid cell | 21.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 24.25 km² per grid cell | 24.25 km² per grid cell | 24.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 27.2 km² per grid cell | 27.2 km² per grid cell | 27.2 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 30.49 km² per grid cell | 30.49 km² per grid cell | 30.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 36.92 km² per grid cell | 36.92 km² per grid cell | 36.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 44.71 km² per grid cell | 44.71 km² per grid cell | 44.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 54.15 km² per grid cell | 54.15 km² per grid cell | 54.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 65.58 km² per grid cell | 65.58 km² per grid cell | 65.58 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 79.42 km² per grid cell | 79.42 km² per grid cell | 79.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 102.39 km² per grid cell | 102.39 km² per grid cell | 102.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 130.79 km² per grid cell | 130.79 km² per grid cell | 130.79 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 176.3 km² per grid cell | 176.3 km² per grid cell | 176.3 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 234.49 km² per grid cell | 234.49 km² per grid cell | 234.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 374.8 km² per grid cell | 325.07 km² per grid cell | 417.97 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 470.08 km² per grid cell | 424.81 km² per grid cell | 520.38 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 564.77 km² per grid cell | 527.93 km² per grid cell | 610.38 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 782.46 km² per grid cell | 631.17 km² per grid cell | 986.25 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,247 km² per grid cell | 1,040 km² per grid cell | 1,429 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,685 km² per grid cell | 1,462 km² per grid cell | 1,951 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,111 km² per grid cell | 1,827 km² per grid cell | 2,385 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,556 km² per grid cell | 2,438 km² per grid cell | 2,675 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 43 Puerto Rico 2,845 km² per grid cell compare
- 44 South Korea 2,837 km² per grid cell compare
- 45 Colombia 2,817 km² per grid cell compare
- 47 Denmark 2,630 km² per grid cell compare
- 48 Bangladesh 2,570 km² per grid cell compare
- 49 Chile 2,558 km² per grid cell compare
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 urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe?
- Urban area over the long-term in Zimbabwe was 2,675 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 2,675 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.001 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Zimbabwe ranks 46th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.