Zimbabwe - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Zimbabwe was 32.24 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 34.59 in 2002, while its lowest value was 12.61 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 12.61
1961 12.82
1962 13.08
1963 13.58
1964 14.09
1965 14.62
1966 15.17
1967 15.73
1968 16.31
1969 16.88
1970 17.36
1971 17.86
1972 18.36
1973 18.87
1974 19.40
1975 19.87
1976 20.36
1977 20.85
1978 21.35
1979 21.85
1980 22.37
1981 22.90
1982 23.43
1983 24.07
1984 24.74
1985 25.41
1986 26.11
1987 26.81
1988 27.52
1989 28.25
1990 28.99
1991 29.74
1992 30.50
1993 30.94
1994 31.34
1995 31.73
1996 32.13
1997 32.53
1998 32.94
1999 33.35
2000 33.76
2001 34.17
2002 34.59
2003 34.48
2004 34.29
2005 34.11
2006 33.93
2007 33.74
2008 33.56
2009 33.38
2010 33.20
2011 33.02
2012 32.83
2013 32.65
2014 32.50
2015 32.39
2016 32.30
2017 32.24
2018 32.21
2019 32.21
2020 32.24

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. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. 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: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization