India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 115.6 people in Zimbabwe. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 252,854 sq ft in Zimbabwe. India and Zimbabwe rank 19th and 144th by population density, respectively.
Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. India has 17.9% of the world's population and 2% 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 India 1,013% higher than in Zimbabwe.
Population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | |
|---|---|---|
India
|
Zimbabwe
|
|
| 2026 | 1,287 | 115.6 |
| 2025 | 1,275 | 113.5 |
| 2024 | 1,264 | 111.4 |
| 2023 | 1,253 | 109.4 |
| 2022 | 1,242 | 107.6 |
| 2021 | 1,232 | 105.8 |
| 2020 | 1,222 | 104 |
| 2019 | 1,210 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 1,197 | 100.7 |
| 2017 | 1,184 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 1,171 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 1,157 | 96.4 |
| 2014 | 1,143 | 95.1 |
| 2013 | 1,129 | 93.8 |
| 2012 | 1,114 | 92.5 |
| 2011 | 1,099 | 91 |
| 2010 | 1,083 | 89.4 |
| 2009 | 1,068 | 88 |
| 2008 | 1,052 | 86.8 |
| 2007 | 1,037 | 85.7 |
| 2006 | 1,022 | 84.6 |
| 2005 | 1,006 | 83.6 |
| 2004 | 990 | 82.8 |
| 2003 | 973 | 81.9 |
| 2002 | 956 | 80.9 |
| 2001 | 939 | 80.2 |
| 2000 | 922 | 79.6 |
| 1999 | 904 | 78.9 |
| 1998 | 887 | 77.6 |
| 1997 | 870 | 76.1 |
| 1996 | 853 | 74.7 |
| 1995 | 837 | 73.5 |
| 1994 | 820 | 72.8 |
| 1993 | 803 | 72.7 |
| 1992 | 787 | 71.7 |
| 1991 | 770 | 69.7 |
| 1990 | 753 | 67.9 |
| 1989 | 737 | 66 |
| 1988 | 721 | 64.2 |
| 1987 | 705 | 62.2 |
| 1986 | 689 | 60.1 |
| 1985 | 673 | 58.2 |
| 1984 | 658 | 56.2 |
| 1983 | 642 | 54.2 |
| 1982 | 627 | 52.2 |
| 1981 | 613 | 50.2 |
| 1980 | 599 | 47.1 |
| 1979 | 585 | 44.5 |
| 1978 | 571 | 43.8 |
| 1977 | 558 | 43.2 |
| 1976 | 545 | 42.1 |
| 1975 | 533 | 40.8 |
| 1974 | 520 | 39.6 |
| 1973 | 508 | 38.3 |
| 1972 | 497 | 37.1 |
| 1971 | 486 | 36 |
| 1970 | 476 | 34.9 |
| 1969 | 465 | 33.9 |
| 1968 | 455 | 32.8 |
| 1967 | 446 | 31.8 |
| 1966 | 436 | 30.8 |
| 1965 | 427 | 29.8 |
| 1964 | 417 | 28.9 |
| 1963 | 408 | 28 |
| 1962 | 398 | 27.2 |
| 1961 | 389 | 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/india/zimbabwe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 36.7% growth in Zimbabwe.
In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Zimbabwe was 145th in 2006 and ranks 144th out of 197 currently.
Population density comparison
|
India
|
Zimbabwe
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 1,287 ppl/mi² | 115.6 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 19/197 | 144/197 |
| Population |
1480351380
|
17361868
|
| Land area | 1,147,955 sq mi | 149,364 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 22,057 sq ft | 250,326 sq ft |
| Rural population | 64.6% | 60.1% |
| Urban population | 35.4% | 39.9% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 10.5% | 21.8% |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | |
|---|---|---|
|
India
|
Zimbabwe
|
|
| 2024 | 35.4% | 39.9% |
| 2023 | 35.1% | 39.3% |
| 2022 | 34.8% | 38.7% |
| 2021 | 34.4% | 37.9% |
| 2020 | 34.1% | 37% |
| 2019 | 33.8% | 36.2% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | 35.4% |
| 2017 | 33.2% | 34.7% |
| 2016 | 32.9% | 34.1% |
| 2015 | 32.5% | 33.6% |
| 2014 | 32.2% | 33.2% |
| 2013 | 31.9% | 32.9% |
| 2012 | 31.6% | 32.8% |
| 2011 | 31.3% | 32.8% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | 32.7% |
| 2009 | 30.5% | 32.7% |
| 2008 | 30.1% | 32.7% |
| 2007 | 29.8% | 32.7% |
| 2006 | 29.4% | 32.7% |
| 2005 | 29.1% | 32.6% |
| 2004 | 28.8% | 32.6% |
| 2003 | 28.5% | 32.6% |
| 2002 | 28.2% | 32.6% |
| 2001 | 27.9% | 32.5% |
| 2000 | 27.6% | 32.4% |
| 1999 | 27.4% | 32.3% |
| 1998 | 27.2% | 32.1% |
| 1997 | 27% | 31.9% |
| 1996 | 26.8% | 31.7% |
| 1995 | 26.6% | 31.4% |
| 1994 | 26.4% | 31.2% |
| 1993 | 26.2% | 30.9% |
| 1992 | 26% | 30.6% |
| 1991 | 25.8% | 30.2% |
| 1990 | 25.6% | 29.6% |
| 1989 | 25.4% | 28.9% |
| 1988 | 25.2% | 28.1% |
| 1987 | 25% | 27.3% |
| 1986 | 24.8% | 26.5% |
| 1985 | 24.7% | 25.6% |
| 1984 | 24.5% | 24.8% |
| 1983 | 24.3% | 24.1% |
| 1982 | 24% | 23.5% |
| 1981 | 23.8% | 22.9% |
| 1980 | 23.5% | 22.3% |
| 1979 | 23.2% | 21.8% |
| 1978 | 22.8% | 21.3% |
| 1977 | 22.4% | 20.8% |
| 1976 | 21.9% | 20.3% |
| 1975 | 21.5% | 19.8% |
| 1974 | 21% | 19.4% |
| 1973 | 20.6% | 18.9% |
| 1972 | 20.3% | 18.4% |
| 1971 | 20% | 17.9% |
| 1970 | 19.7% | 17.4% |
| 1969 | 19.5% | 16.9% |
| 1968 | 19.2% | 16.4% |
| 1967 | 19% | 15.8% |
| 1966 | 18.8% | 15.1% |
| 1965 | 18.6% | 14.5% |
| 1964 | 18.4% | 14% |
| 1963 | 18.3% | 13.5% |
| 1962 | 18.1% | 13.1% |
| 1961 | 18% | 12.8% |
| 1960 | 17.9% | 12.5% |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/india/zimbabwe | CC BY
From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 32.6% to 39.9% in Zimbabwe.
Densely populated cities
|
India
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Delhi | 26.5M |
| Mumbai | 15.4M |
| Bangalore | 12.3M |
| Hyderabad | 9.3M |
| Ahmedabad | 7.64M |
| Chennai | 6.6M |
| Pune | 5.94M |
| Surat | 5.94M |
| Kolkata | 4.5M |
| Lucknow | 3.38M |
|
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
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/india/zimbabwe | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
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)
- Wikidata (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.