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Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Population
16.6M
Rank #73Source: World Bank
Capital
Harare
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$41.54B
Rank #103Source: World Bank
Land Area
390.8K km²
Rank #61Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
62.775 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 390,757 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
Elevation: mean elevation: 961 m lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural Hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by...
Land Use: agricultural land: 42.5% (2011 est.) forest: 39.5% (2011 est.) other: 18% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water; Lake...
Natural Resources
coalchromium oreasbestosgoldnickelcopperiron orevanadiumlithiumtin
People & Society
Fertility Rate
3.72
Population
16.6M
Ethnic Groups
African (99.4%)other (0.4%)unspecified (0.2%)
Religions
Protestant 74.8% (includes Apostolic (37.5%)Pentecostal (21.8%)other (15.5%)Roman Catholic (7.3%)other Christian (5.3%)traditional (1.5%)Muslim (0.5%)other (0.1%)none (10.5%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$2,497.203
GDP per Capita PPP
5,928.081
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
2,400
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
50.3
(2019)
(2019)
Unemployment
9.435%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
98.546%
(2021)
(2021)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
62%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
82.4%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
12.855 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
14.77 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
72.628%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
44.737% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
38.427%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
91.634%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
1.575%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
3.782 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
2,085
Rail Lines
3,120 km
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ)
Personnel Strength
size estimates for the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops, including about 4,000 serving in the Air Force
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.10B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.35%
Military Expenditure History
1% of GDP (2019) 1.2% of GDP (2018) 1.5% of GDP (2017) 1.7% of GDP (2016) 1.9% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the ZDF inventory is comprised mostly of older Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment; since 2000, China is the leading arms supplier to the ZDF, although there are no recorded deliveries of weapons...
Service Age & Obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service (18-24 for officer cadets; 18-30 for technical/specialist personnel); no conscription; women are eligible to serve
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
74.315%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
93.077%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
52.416%
(2013)
(2013)
Tertiary Enrollment
7.749%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
0.385% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
93.23%
(2019)
(2019)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
36.408:1
(2013)
(2013)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.136
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Water Access
67.211%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
25.461%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
44.2 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
13.632 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
60.533
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
59
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
91%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
49.2%
(2019)
(2019)
Food Insecurity
19.7%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
22.361%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
28.09%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.09
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.93
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.17
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-1.34
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-1.28
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.26
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017); First Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 28 December 2017); note - Robert Gabriel MUGABE resigned on 21...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate (80 seats; 60 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - 6 seats in each of the 10 provinces - by proportional representation vote,...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges) judge selection and term of...
National Symbols
Flag Description
seven equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird...
National Symbols
Zimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white
National Anthem
name: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe) lyrics/music: Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA note:...
Safety
Homicide Rate
6.758 per 100,000
(2022)
(2022)
Travel Information
Language(s): Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, +12 more
Currency: ZWL ($)
Timezone(s): UTC+02:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +263
Car Sign: ZW
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
A closer view of Victoria Falls' plunging waters. The falls are located between the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
A closer view of Victoria Falls' plunging waters. The falls are located between the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
More than 1.5 km wide (about 1 mi), Victoria Falls throws up tremendous clouds of mist.
More than 1.5 km wide (about 1 mi), Victoria Falls throws up tremendous clouds of mist. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Cascading rapids at the upper brink of Victoria Falls.
Cascading rapids at the upper brink of Victoria Falls. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Sunlight penetrating the mist thrown up at Victoria Falls can create rainbows. The power, height, and majesty of the falls are all evident in this scene.
Sunlight penetrating the mist thrown up at Victoria Falls can create rainbows. The power, height, and majesty of the falls are all evident in this scene. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
The plunging torrents of Victoria Falls. During flood season (February to April), the falls form the greatest sheet of falling water on earth.
The plunging torrents of Victoria Falls. During flood season (February to April), the falls form the greatest sheet of falling water on earth. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Some of the cascading waters at Victoria Falls.
Some of the cascading waters at Victoria Falls. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
21 photos available
View All Photos→Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data