Urban population growth in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Urban population growth was 3.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Zimbabwe, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Zimbabwe stood at 3.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 33.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Zimbabwe peaked at 8.7% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2001.
Zimbabwe ranks 33rd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.5% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.3% | 3.8% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.8% | 5.6% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 1.0% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More climate change data for Zimbabwe
- Population growth 1.9% (2025)
- Population, total 16.95 million (2025)
- Urban population 6.86 million (2025)
- Urban population 40.5% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 9.6% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 4.91 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 40.0% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 28.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 28.3% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 2.9 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Zimbabwe?
- Urban population growth in Zimbabwe was 3.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7% in 1981.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2001.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for urban population growth?
- Zimbabwe ranks 33rd out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.