Share of population living in urban areas in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of population living in urban areas was 33.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Zimbabwe, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas in Zimbabwe is 33.6%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban 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 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% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 33.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.3%, 47% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 33.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.4%, 48% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 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 share of population living in urban areas in Zimbabwe?
- Share of population living in urban 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 areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Zimbabwe ranks 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban 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 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.