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Population density: Burundi vs Zimbabwe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 115.6 people in Zimbabwe. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 252,854 sq ft in Zimbabwe. Burundi and Zimbabwe rank 15th and 144th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burundi has 0.17% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.2% of the population and 0.26% of the land area for Zimbabwe, making the population density in Burundi 1,186% higher than in Zimbabwe.

Population density by year

Burundi
Zimbabwe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Zimbabwe
2026 1,487 115.6
2025 1,452 113.5
2024 1,417 111.4
2023 1,381 109.4
2022 1,344 107.6
2021 1,308 105.8
2020 1,273 104
2019 1,236 102.2
2018 1,196 100.7
2017 1,161 99.2
2016 1,134 97.8
2015 1,114 96.4
2014 1,089 95.1
2013 1,053 93.8
2012 1,016 92.5
2011 980 91
2010 946 89.4
2009 902 88
2008 858 86.8
2007 823 85.7
2006 793 84.6
2005 765 83.6
2004 737 82.8
2003 710 81.9
2002 688 80.9
2001 669 80.2
2000 653 79.6
1999 639 78.9
1998 624 77.6
1997 612 76.1
1996 612 74.7
1995 612 73.5
1994 576 72.8
1993 573 72.7
1992 591 71.7
1991 575 69.7
1990 563 67.9
1989 552 66
1988 541 64.2
1987 529 62.2
1986 517 60.1
1985 508 58.2
1984 497 56.2
1983 485 54.2
1982 472 52.2
1981 461 50.2
1980 442 47.1
1979 424 44.5
1978 414 43.8
1977 402 43.2
1976 392 42.1
1975 383 40.8
1974 374 39.6
1973 364 38.3
1972 365 37.1
1971 365 36
1970 356 34.9
1969 348 33.9
1968 341 32.8
1967 333 31.8
1966 325 30.8
1965 317 29.8
1964 308 28.9
1963 299.5 28
1962 293.3 27.2
1961 285.9 26.3

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 36.7% growth in Zimbabwe.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Zimbabwe was 145th in 2006 and ranks 144th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Zimbabwe
2024 24.8% 39.9%
2023 23.6% 39.3%
2022 22.3% 38.7%
2021 21.1% 37.9%
2020 19.9% 37%
2019 18.8% 36.2%
2018 17.7% 35.4%
2017 16.6% 34.7%
2016 15.6% 34.1%
2015 14.7% 33.6%
2014 13.8% 33.2%
2013 13% 32.9%
2012 12.2% 32.8%
2011 11.6% 32.8%
2010 11% 32.7%
2009 10.5% 32.7%
2008 10.1% 32.7%
2007 9.77% 32.7%
2006 9.46% 32.7%
2005 9.18% 32.6%
2004 8.92% 32.6%
2003 8.68% 32.6%
2002 8.45% 32.6%
2001 8.24% 32.5%
2000 8.04% 32.4%
1999 7.86% 32.3%
1998 7.68% 32.1%
1997 7.51% 31.9%
1996 7.34% 31.7%
1995 7.17% 31.4%
1994 7% 31.2%
1993 6.83% 30.9%
1992 6.65% 30.6%
1991 6.46% 30.2%
1990 6.27% 29.6%
1989 6.07% 28.9%
1988 5.86% 28.1%
1987 5.66% 27.3%
1986 5.46% 26.5%
1985 5.26% 25.6%
1984 5.07% 24.8%
1983 4.88% 24.1%
1982 4.69% 23.5%
1981 4.51% 22.9%
1980 4.34% 22.3%
1979 4.18% 21.8%
1978 4.02% 21.3%
1977 3.87% 20.8%
1976 3.72% 20.3%
1975 3.57% 19.8%
1974 3.42% 19.4%
1973 3.28% 18.9%
1972 3.14% 18.4%
1971 3.01% 17.9%
1970 2.88% 17.4%
1969 2.75% 16.9%
1968 2.63% 16.4%
1967 2.51% 15.8%
1966 2.4% 15.1%
1965 2.3% 14.5%
1964 2.2% 14%
1963 2.11% 13.5%
1962 2.01% 13.1%
1961 1.92% 12.8%
1960 1.84% 12.5%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 32.6% to 39.9% in Zimbabwe.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/zimbabwe | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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