Did Great Zimbabwe Have a Peak Population of 20,000?

💡 The Answer

• Earlier estimates suggested a peak population of around 20,000 people.
• However, a recent study indicates the population did not exceed 10,000.
• The study used archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence.
• Statistical modelling supports the lower figure.
• The city spans 7.22 km², so 20,000 would have been very dense.