2015 Edition

Background

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the former British South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 1997 and intensified after 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection.

In April 2005, the capital city of Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential poll, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing "government of national unity," in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in June 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned. As a prerequisite to holding the election, Zimbabwe enacted a new constitution by referendum, although many provisions in the new constitution have yet to be codified in law.

Area

land

386,847 sq km

total

390,757 sq km

water

3,910 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Montana

Climate

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Inyangani 2,592 m

lowest point

junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m

Environment - current 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 poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

333.5 cu m/yr (2002)

total

4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 30 00 E

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 Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

Irrigated land

1,735 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Botswana 834 km, Mozambique 1,402 km, South Africa 230 km, Zambia 763 km

total

3,229 km

Land use

arable land 10.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 31.3%

agricultural land

42.5%

forest

39.5%

other

18% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Natural resources

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Terrain

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Total renewable water resources

20 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

37.88% (male 2,723,586/female 2,666,624)

15-24 years

21.65% (male 1,550,518/female 1,530,737)

25-54 years

33.4% (male 2,485,086/female 2,267,125)

55-64 years

3.57% (male 184,517/female 324,079)

65 years and over

3.49% (male 193,928/female 303,341) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

32.26 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.2% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

58.5% (2010/11)

Death rate

10.13 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.3%

potential support ratio

18.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

80.4%

youth dependency ratio

75%

Drinking water source

urban: 97% of population

rural: 67.3% of population

total: 76.9% of population

urban: 3% of population

rural: 32.7% of population

total: 23.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

African 99.4% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

16.74% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

38,600 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,550,300 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

23.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

28.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.11 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Shona (official; most widely spoken), Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken), English (official; traditionally used for official business), 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa)

Life expectancy at birth

female

57.57 years (2015 est.)

male

56.54 years

total population

57.05 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English

female

84.6% (2015 est.)

male

88.5%

total population

86.5%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

HARARE (capital) 1.501 million (2015)

Median age

female

20.7 years (2015 est.)

male

20.4 years

total

20.35 years

Nationality

adjective

Zimbabwean

noun

Zimbabwean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.4% (2014)

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

14,229,541

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.21% (2015 est.)

Religions

Protestant 75.9% (includes Apostolic 38%, Pentecostal 21.1%, other 16.8%), Roman Catholic 8.4%, other Christian 8.4%, other 1.2% (includes traditional, Muslim), none 6.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 49.3% of population

rural: 30.8% of population

total: 36.8% of population

urban: 50.7% of population

rural: 69.2% of population

total: 63.2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2012)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.57 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.53 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

7.6% (2004 est.)

male

7.6%

total

7.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

32.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Capital

geographic coordinates

17 49 S, 31 02 E

name

Harare

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1979; latest approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013 (2013)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Zimbabwe

conventional short form

Zimbabwe

former

Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David Bruce WHARTON (since 15 November 2012)

embassy

172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare

FAX

[263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618

mailing address

P. O. Box 3340, Harare

telephone

[263] (4) 250-593 through 250-594

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Ammon MUTEMBWA (since 18 November 2014)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-9326

telephone

[1] (202) 332-7100

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to House of Assembly

chief of state

Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice Presidents Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA and Phelekezela MPHOKO (both since 12 December 2014); note - Vice President Joice MUJURU (since 6 December 2004) was dismissed 9 December 2014

election results

Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE (ZANU-PF) 61.1%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI (MDC-T) 34.4%, Welshman NCUBE (MDC-N) 2.7%, other 1.8%; note - the election process was considered flawed and roundly criticized by election monitors and international bodies; both the African Union and the South African Development Community endorsed the results of the election with some concerns

elections/appointments

each presidential candidate nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least 1 candidate from each province) and directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership

head of government

Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); note - following the 31 July 2013 presidential election, the position of prime minister was abolished

Flag description

seven equal horizontal bands of green, 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 representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green represents agriculture, yellow mineral wealth, red the blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

18 April 1980 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the chief justice, Public Service Commission chairman, attorney general, and 2-3 members appointed by the president; judges normally serve until age 65 but can elect to serve until age 70

subordinate courts

High Court, regional magistrate courts, and special courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (80 seats; 60 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - 6 seats in each of the 10 provinces - by proportional representation vote, 16 indirectly elected by the regional governing councils, 2 reserved for the National Council Chiefs, and 2 reserved for members with disabilities; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Assembly (270 seats; 210 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 60 seats reserved for women directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 37 MDC-T 21, MDC-N 2, chiefs 18, people with disabilities 2; House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 197, MDC-T 70, MDC-N 2, independent 1

elections

last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA

name

"Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)

note

adopted 1994

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

National symbol(s)

Zimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white

Political parties and leaders

African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA]

Freedom Party [Cosmas MPONDA]

Movambo Kusile Dawn or MKD [Simba MAKONI]

Movement for Democratic Change - Ncube or MDC-N [Welshman NCUBE]

Movement for Democratic Change - Renewal or MDC-R [Sekai HOLLAND]; note - has been kicked out of Parliament as of 17 May 2015

Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai or MDC-T [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]

Transform Zimbabwe or TZ [Jacob NGARIVHUME]

United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]

Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]

Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Dumiso DABENGWA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]

Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA [Jenni WILLIAMS]

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU [Japhet MOYO]

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights or ZLHR [Irene PETRAS]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

tobacco, corn, cotton, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs

Budget

expenditures

$4.615 billion (2014)

revenues

$3.732 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.4% of GDP (2014)

Central bank discount rate

7.17% (31 December 2010)

975% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

22% (31 December 2014 est.)

28% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.044 billion (2014 est.)

-$576 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$9.361 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.1 (2006)

50.1 (1995)

Economy - overview

Zimbabwe's economy depends heavily on its mining and agriculture sectors. Following a decade of contraction from 1998 to 2008, the economy recorded real growth of more than 10% per year from 2010-13, before slowing to roughly 3% in 2014 due to poor harvests, low diamond revenues, and decreased investment. Infrastructure and regulatory deficiencies, a poor investment climate, a large public and external debt burden, and extremely high government wage expenses impede the country’s economic performance. Until early 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) routinely printed money to fund the budget deficit, causing hyperinflation. Dollarization in early 2009 - which allowed currencies such as the Botswana pula, the South Africa rand, and the US dollar to be used locally - ended hyperinflation and reduced inflation below 10% per year, but exposed structural weaknesses that inhibit broad-based growth. The RBZ introduced bond coins denominated in 1, 5, 10, and 25 cent increments on a par with the US dollar in December 2014, more than five years after the Zimbabwe dollar was taken out of circulation. In January 2015, as part of the government’s effort to boost trade and attract foreign investment, the RBZ announced that the Chinese renmimbi, Indian rupee, Australian dollar, and Japanese yen would be accepted as legal tender in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s government entered a second Staff Monitored Program with the International Monetary Fund in 2014 and undertook other measures to reengage with international financial institutions. Foreign and domestic investment continues to be hindered by the lack of clarity regarding the government’s Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act.

Exchange rates

Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -

NA (2013)

234.25 (2010)

234.25 (2009)

9,686.8 (2007)

note

the dollar was adopted as a legal currency in 2009; since then the Zimbabwean dollar has experienced hyperinflation and is essentially worthless

Exports

$3.263 billion (2014 est.)

$3.144 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports - partners

China 27.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.3%, Botswana 11%, South Africa 6.8%, Belgium 4.4%, Zambia 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

68.5%

government consumption

31.4%

household consumption

68.7%

imports of goods and services

-90.9%

investment in fixed capital

22.4%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

20.1%

industry

25.7%

services

54.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2014 est.)

$2,000 (2013 est.)

$1,900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2014 est.)

4.5% (2013 est.)

10.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.67 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$27.13 billion (2014 est.)

$26.3 billion (2013 est.)

$25.17 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

-9% of GDP (2014 est.)

-12.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

-11% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

40.4% (1995)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$5.135 billion (2014 est.)

$4.571 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners

South Africa 49.7%, China 8.8%, Zambia 5.5%, India 4.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (2014 est.)

Industries

mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0% (2014 est.)

1.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

5.634 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

66%

industry

10%

services

24% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.073 billion (13 April 2015 est.)

$11.82 billion (31 December 2012)

$10.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

72.3% (2012 est.)

Public debt

181% of GDP (2014 est.)

181.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$448 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$475 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$47.64 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$101.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$14.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$9.844 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$43.43 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$23.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

Zimbabwe's central bank no longer publishes data on monetary aggregates, except for bank deposits, which amounted to $2.1 billion in November 2010; the Zimbabwe dollar stopped circulating in early 2009; since then, the US dollar and South African rand have been the most frequently used currencies; there are no reliable estimates of the amount of foreign currency circulating in Zimbabwe

Taxes and other revenues

27.2% of GDP (2014)

Unemployment rate

95% (2009 est.)

80% (2005 est.)

note

figures include unemployment and underemployment; true unemployment is unknown and, under current economic conditions, unknowable

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

10.12 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

120 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

8.49 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.085 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

62.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

37.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.616 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.966 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

7.297 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,010 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

13,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

government owns all local radio and TV stations; foreign shortwave broadcasts and satellite TV are available to those who can afford antennas and receivers; in rural areas, access to TV broadcasts is extremely limited (2007)

Internet country code

.zw

Internet users

percent of population

19.5% (2014 est.)

total

2.7 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

domestic

consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones

general assessment

system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance

international

country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru) (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

330,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

86 (2014 est.)

total

11.8 million

Television broadcast stations

16 (1997)

Airports

196 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2013)

over 3,047 m

3

total

17

Airports - with unpaved runways

72 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

104

total

179

Pipelines

refined products 270 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Binga, Kariba (Zambezi)

Railways

narrow gauge

3,427 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2014)

total

3,427 km

Roadways

paved

18,481 km

total

97,267 km

unpaved

78,786 km (2002)

Waterways

(some navigation possible on Lake Kariba) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,868,376 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,616,051

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,646,041 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,528,166

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

152,550 (2010 est.)

male

154,870

Military branches

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) (2012)

Military expenditures

2.79% of GDP (2014)

2.64% of GDP (2013)

2.94% of GDP (2012)

2.05% of GDP (2011)

2.94% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2012)

Disputes - international

Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration

Illicit drugs

transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

undetermined (political violence, violence in association with the 2008 election, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2015)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Zimbabwean women and girls from towns bordering South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia are subjected to prostitution, sometimes being sold by their parents; Zimbabwean men, women, and children experience forced labor in agriculture and domestic service in rural areas, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking in cities and towns; Zimbabwean women and men are lured into exploitative labor situations in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Korea, and South Africa with false job offers, while women and girls are lured to Zambia, China, Egypt, the UK, and Canada and forced into prostitution; adults and children from Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia are trafficked through Zimbabwe en route to South Africa

tier rating

Tier 3 - Zimbabwe does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; corruption in law enforcement and the judiciary continued to impair anti-trafficking efforts in 2013; the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenses and conviction of offenders remained weak, with only two prosecutions being initiated; law enforcement did not employ formal procedures to identify and refer trafficking victims to care and continued to rely on NGOs to identify and assist victims; temporary regulations in 2014 mandated the creation of an anti-trafficking national action plan and the establishment of centers for trafficking victims, but neither have been implemented; Zimbabwe acceded to the UN TIP Protocol in 2013 (2014)