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Population density: Switzerland vs Zimbabwe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Switzerland has a population density of 596 people per square mile compared to 115.6 people in Zimbabwe. Switzerland has 49,353 sq ft of land per person vs 252,854 sq ft in Zimbabwe. Switzerland and Zimbabwe rank 51st and 144th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Switzerland has 0.11% of the world's population and 0.03% 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 Switzerland 416% higher than in Zimbabwe.

Population density by year

Switzerland
Zimbabwe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Switzerland Zimbabwe
2026 596 115.6
2025 594 113.5
2024 590 111.4
2023 583 109.4
2022 575 107.6
2021 571 105.8
2020 566 104
2019 562 102.2
2018 558 100.7
2017 554 99.2
2016 549 97.8
2015 543 96.4
2014 537 95.1
2013 530 93.8
2012 524 92.5
2011 519 91
2010 513 89.4
2009 508 88
2008 501 86.8
2007 495 85.7
2006 491 84.6
2005 487 83.6
2004 484 82.8
2003 481 81.9
2002 477 80.9
2001 474 80.2
2000 471 79.6
1999 468 78.9
1998 466 77.6
1997 464 76.1
1996 463 74.7
1995 461 73.5
1994 458 72.8
1993 455 72.7
1992 450 71.7
1991 446 69.7
1990 440 67.9
1989 436 66
1988 432 64.2
1987 429 62.2
1986 426 60.1
1985 424 58.2
1984 422 56.2
1983 421 54.2
1982 419 52.2
1981 416 50.2
1980 414 47.1
1979 412 44.5
1978 412 43.8
1977 412 43.2
1976 413 42.1
1975 415 40.8
1974 416 39.6
1973 413 38.3
1972 410 37.1
1971 407 36
1970 405 34.9
1969 402 33.9
1968 398 32.8
1967 393 31.8
1966 388 30.8
1965 384 29.8
1964 379 28.9
1963 373 28
1962 365 27.2
1961 356 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/switzerland/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Switzerland increased by 21.6%, compared to a 36.7% growth in Zimbabwe.

In 2006, Switzerland ranked 44th by population density and is 51st now. Zimbabwe was 145th in 2006 and ranks 144th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Switzerland
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Urban population
Switzerland Zimbabwe
2024 85.5% 39.9%
2023 85.2% 39.3%
2022 84.9% 38.7%
2021 84.2% 37.9%
2020 82.3% 37%
2019 80.8% 36.2%
2018 79.3% 35.4%
2017 77.9% 34.7%
2016 76.7% 34.1%
2015 75.6% 33.6%
2014 74.7% 33.2%
2013 74.1% 32.9%
2012 73.8% 32.8%
2011 73.7% 32.8%
2010 73.6% 32.7%
2009 73.6% 32.7%
2008 73.5% 32.7%
2007 73.5% 32.7%
2006 73.5% 32.7%
2005 73.5% 32.6%
2004 73.5% 32.6%
2003 73.5% 32.6%
2002 73.4% 32.6%
2001 73.4% 32.5%
2000 73.3% 32.4%
1999 73.1% 32.3%
1998 72.9% 32.1%
1997 72.5% 31.9%
1996 72% 31.7%
1995 71.5% 31.4%
1994 71% 31.2%
1993 70.4% 30.9%
1992 69.8% 30.6%
1991 69.2% 30.2%
1990 68.7% 29.6%
1989 68% 28.9%
1988 67.3% 28.1%
1987 66.5% 27.3%
1986 65.6% 26.5%
1985 64.8% 25.6%
1984 64% 24.8%
1983 63.2% 24.1%
1982 62.4% 23.5%
1981 61.8% 22.9%
1980 61.3% 22.3%
1979 60.8% 21.8%
1978 60.4% 21.3%
1977 60.1% 20.8%
1976 59.7% 20.3%
1975 59.4% 19.8%
1974 59.1% 19.4%
1973 58.7% 18.9%
1972 58.3% 18.4%
1971 57.9% 17.9%
1970 57.4% 17.4%
1969 56.9% 16.9%
1968 56.3% 16.4%
1967 55.7% 15.8%
1966 55.1% 15.1%
1965 54.4% 14.5%
1964 53.7% 14%
1963 53% 13.5%
1962 52.4% 13.1%
1961 51.7% 12.8%
1960 51% 12.5%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland and from 32.6% to 39.9% in Zimbabwe.

Densely populated cities

Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K
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/switzerland/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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