Rural population density in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Rural population density was 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
37th
of 53 countries
All-time high
259.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1993
All-time low
178.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Zimbabwe, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land for rural population density in 2011.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Zimbabwe peaked at 259.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1993 and was at its lowest, 178.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
Zimbabwe ranks 37th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 178.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 179.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 179.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 180.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 182.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 181.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 182.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 182.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 183.35 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 184.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 185.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 188.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 193.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 195.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 200.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 205.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 211.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 216.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 222.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 225.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 229.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 233.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 237.17 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 241.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 245.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 248.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 250.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 253.63 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 255.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 257.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 258.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 259.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 259.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 258.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 258.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 254.17 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 241.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 243.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 234.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 231.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 231.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 227.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 225.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 215.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 207.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 198.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 195.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 184.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 189.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 189.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 181.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 178.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 183.35 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 200.45 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 184.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 222.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 242.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 225.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 255.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 252.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 234.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 259.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 210.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 184.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 231.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 190.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 189.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 34 Burkina Faso 218.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 35 Angola 195.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 36 Benin 194.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 38 Senegal 190.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 39 Chad 183.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 40 Namibia 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Zimbabwe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.06 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate -5.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0034 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -16.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Zimbabwe?
- Rural population density in Zimbabwe was 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 259.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1993.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 178.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for rural population density?
- Zimbabwe ranks 37th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.