Zimbabwe - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Zimbabwe was 4,792,105 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 4,792,105 in 2020 and a minimum value of 476,164 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 476,164
1961 500,665
1962 528,409
1963 567,387
1964 609,177
1965 653,686
1966 701,130
1967 751,723
1968 805,826
1969 862,792
1970 918,330
1971 977,914
1972 1,041,731
1973 1,109,362
1974 1,180,505
1975 1,250,782
1976 1,323,662
1977 1,399,355
1978 1,479,137
1979 1,564,679
1980 1,657,385
1981 1,757,324
1982 1,864,536
1983 1,986,835
1984 2,117,960
1985 2,256,125
1986 2,401,699
1987 2,554,148
1988 2,710,874
1989 2,868,463
1990 3,024,147
1991 3,176,318
1992 3,324,547
1993 3,432,105
1994 3,528,870
1995 3,620,850
1996 3,708,423
1997 3,791,270
1998 3,869,370
1999 3,942,523
2000 4,010,951
2001 4,074,399
2002 4,134,392
2003 4,131,349
2004 4,122,108
2005 4,119,361
2006 4,123,874
2007 4,135,515
2008 4,154,578
2009 4,181,250
2010 4,215,138
2011 4,257,061
2012 4,306,228
2013 4,359,432
2014 4,416,224
2015 4,473,872
2016 4,531,238
2017 4,589,452
2018 4,650,597
2019 4,717,307
2020 4,792,105

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization