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Population density: Japan vs Zimbabwe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a population density of 872 people per square mile compared to 115.6 people in Zimbabwe. Japan has 32,817 sq ft of land per person vs 252,854 sq ft in Zimbabwe. Japan and Zimbabwe rank 28th and 144th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Japan has 1.53% of the world's population and 0.24% 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 Japan 654% higher than in Zimbabwe.

Population density by year

Japan
Zimbabwe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Japan Zimbabwe
2026 872 115.6
2025 876 113.5
2024 881 111.4
2023 885 109.4
2022 889 107.6
2021 893 105.8
2020 897 104
2019 900 102.2
2018 901 100.7
2017 902 99.2
2016 903 97.8
2015 903 96.4
2014 904 95.1
2013 906 93.8
2012 907 92.5
2011 908 91
2010 910 89.4
2009 910 88
2008 910 86.8
2007 910 85.7
2006 908 84.6
2005 908 83.6
2004 908 82.8
2003 908 81.9
2002 906 80.9
2001 903 80.2
2000 901 79.6
1999 900 78.9
1998 898 77.6
1997 896 76.1
1996 894 74.7
1995 891 73.5
1994 889 72.8
1993 887 72.7
1992 884 71.7
1991 881 69.7
1990 877 67.9
1989 874 66
1988 871 64.2
1987 867 62.2
1986 863 60.1
1985 858 58.2
1984 853 56.2
1983 844 54.2
1982 838 52.2
1981 832 50.2
1980 826 47.1
1979 819 44.5
1978 812 43.8
1977 805 43.2
1976 797 42.1
1975 788 40.8
1974 778 39.6
1973 768 38.3
1972 757 37.1
1971 747 36
1970 730 34.9
1969 722 33.9
1968 713 32.8
1967 705 31.8
1966 698 30.8
1965 692 29.8
1964 684 28.9
1963 677 28
1962 671 27.2
1961 664 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/japan/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Japan decreased by 4.07%, compared to a 36.7% growth in Zimbabwe.

In 2006, Japan ranked 19th by population density and is 28th now. Zimbabwe was 145th in 2006 and ranks 144th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Japan
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Urban population
Japan Zimbabwe
2024 92.2% 39.9%
2023 92.1% 39.3%
2022 92% 38.7%
2021 91.9% 37.9%
2020 91.8% 37%
2019 91.7% 36.2%
2018 91.6% 35.4%
2017 91.5% 34.7%
2016 91.5% 34.1%
2015 91.4% 33.6%
2014 91.3% 33.2%
2013 91.2% 32.9%
2012 91% 32.8%
2011 90.9% 32.8%
2010 90.6% 32.7%
2009 90.1% 32.7%
2008 89.3% 32.7%
2007 88.3% 32.7%
2006 87.1% 32.7%
2005 86% 32.6%
2004 84.4% 32.6%
2003 82.4% 32.6%
2002 80.5% 32.6%
2001 79.2% 32.5%
2000 78.6% 32.4%
1999 78.4% 32.3%
1998 78.3% 32.1%
1997 78.2% 31.9%
1996 78.1% 31.7%
1995 78% 31.4%
1994 77.9% 31.2%
1993 77.7% 30.9%
1992 77.6% 30.6%
1991 77.5% 30.2%
1990 77.3% 29.6%
1989 77.2% 28.9%
1988 77.1% 28.1%
1987 76.9% 27.3%
1986 76.8% 26.5%
1985 76.7% 25.6%
1984 76.6% 24.8%
1983 76.5% 24.1%
1982 76.3% 23.5%
1981 76.3% 22.9%
1980 76.2% 22.3%
1979 76.1% 21.8%
1978 76.1% 21.3%
1977 76% 20.8%
1976 76% 20.3%
1975 75.9% 19.8%
1974 75.4% 19.4%
1973 74.6% 18.9%
1972 73.7% 18.4%
1971 72.7% 17.9%
1970 71.9% 17.4%
1969 71.1% 16.9%
1968 70.3% 16.4%
1967 69.5% 15.8%
1966 68.7% 15.1%
1965 67.9% 14.5%
1964 67% 14%
1963 66.1% 13.5%
1962 65.2% 13.1%
1961 64.3% 12.8%
1960 63.3% 12.5%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 84.4% to 92.2% in Japan and from 32.6% to 39.9% in Zimbabwe.

Densely populated cities

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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. Wikidata (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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