2023 Edition

Background

The hunter-gatherer San people first inhabited the area that eventually became Zimbabwe. Farming communities migrated to the area around A.D. 500 during the Bantu expansion, and Shona-speaking societies began to develop in the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwean highlands around the 9th century. These societies traded with Arab merchants on the Indian Ocean coast and organized under the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century. A series of powerful trade-oriented Shona states succeeded Mapungubwe, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (ca. 1220-1450), Kingdom of Mutapa (ca. 1450-1760), and the Rozwi Empire. The Rozwi Empire expelled Portuguese colonists from the Zimbabwean plateau but was eventually conquered in 1838 by the Ndebele clan of Zulu general MZILIKAZI during the era of conflict and population displacement known as the Mfecane. In the 1880s, colonists arrived with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) and obtained a written concession for mining rights from Ndebele King LOBENGULA. The king later disavowed the concession and accused the BSAC agents of deceit. The BSAC annexed Mashonaland and subsequently conquered Matabeleland by force during the First Matabele War of 1893-1894 to establish company rule over the territory. BSAC holdings south of the Zambezi River were annexed by the UK in 1923 and became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The 1930 Land Apportionment Act restricted Black land ownership and established structural racial inequalities that would favor the White minority for decades. A new constitution in 1961 further cemented White minority rule.In 1965, the government under White Prime Minister Ian SMITH unilaterally declared its independence from the UK. London did not recognize Rhodesia’s independence and demanded more voting rights for the Black majority in the country. International diplomacy and a liberation struggle by Black Zimbabweans led to biracial elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, who led the uprising and became the nation's first prime minister, was the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) from independence until November 2017, when loss of support from his political party and the country's military forced his resignation. In the mid-1980s, the government tortured and killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on dissent known as the Gukurahundi campaign. Economic mismanagement and chaotic implementation of land redistribution policies following independence periodically crippled the economy and resulted in widespread shortages of basic commodities. General elections in 2002, 2008, and 2013 were severely flawed and widely condemned but allowed MUGABE to remain president. In November 2017, Vice President Emmerson MNANGAGWA became president following a military intervention led by Constantino CHIWENGA that forced MUGABE to resign, and MNANGAGWA cemented power by sidelining rivals Grace MUGABE (Robert MUGABE’s wife) and her faction of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party. In July 2018, MNANGAGWA won the presidential election after a close contest with opposition candidate Nelson CHAMISA. MNANGAGWA has maintained the government's longstanding practice of violently disrupting protests and opposition rallies and politicizing institutions. Economic conditions remain dire under MNANGAGWA.

Area

land

386,847 sq km

total

390,757 sq km

water

3,910 sq km

Area - comparative

about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Inyangani 2,592 m

lowest point

junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m

mean elevation

961 m

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

1,740 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

3,229 km

Land use

agricultural land

42.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 31.3% (2018 est.)

forest

39.5% (2018 est.)

other

18% (2018 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Major aquifers

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

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

Population distribution

Aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

38.16% (male 2,920,951/female 2,962,652)

15-64 years

57.32% (male 4,417,612/female 4,419,769)

65 years and over

4.52% (2023 est.) (male 269,329/female 428,361)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

29.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

1.9% (2019 est.)

women married by age 15

5.4%

women married by age 18

33.7%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.7% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

66.8% (2015)

Current health expenditure

3.4% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

61.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Demographic profile

Zimbabwe’s progress in reproductive, maternal, and child health has stagnated in recent years. According to a 2010 Demographic and Health Survey, contraceptive use, the number of births attended by skilled practitioners, and child mortality have either stalled or somewhat deteriorated since the mid-2000s. Zimbabwe’s total fertility rate has remained fairly stable at about 4 children per woman for the last two decades, although an uptick in the urban birth rate in recent years has caused a slight rise in the country’s overall fertility rate. Zimbabwe’s HIV prevalence rate dropped from approximately 29% to 15% since 1997 but remains among the world’s highest and continues to suppress the country’s life expectancy rate. The proliferation of HIV/AIDS information and prevention programs and personal experience with those suffering or dying from the disease have helped to change sexual behavior and reduce the epidemic. Historically, the vast majority of Zimbabwe’s migration has been internal – a rural-urban flow. In terms of international migration, over the last 40 years Zimbabwe has gradually shifted from being a destination country to one of emigration and, to a lesser degree, one of transit (for East African illegal migrants traveling to South Africa). As a British colony, Zimbabwe attracted significant numbers of permanent immigrants from the UK and other European countries, as well as temporary economic migrants from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Although Zimbabweans have migrated to South Africa since the beginning of the 20th century to work as miners, the first major exodus from the country occurred in the years before and after independence in 1980. The outward migration was politically and racially influenced; a large share of the white population of European origin chose to leave rather than live under a new black-majority government. In the 1990s and 2000s, economic mismanagement and hyperinflation sparked a second, more diverse wave of emigration. This massive outmigration – primarily to other southern African countries, the UK, and the US – has created a variety of challenges, including brain drain, illegal migration, and human smuggling and trafficking. Several factors have pushed highly skilled workers to go abroad, including unemployment, lower wages, a lack of resources, and few opportunities for career growth.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6

potential support ratio

16.6 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

79.4

youth dependency ratio

73.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 66.9% of population

improved: total

total: 76.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 33.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 23.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.1% of population

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2018 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.73 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

30.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

37.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

34 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

68.5 years

male

65.2 years

total population

66.8 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English

female

89.7% (2021)

male

88.3%

total population

89.7%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

high (2023)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

1.578 million HARARE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

357 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

21.8 years

male

20.2 years

total

21 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 years (2015 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Zimbabwean

noun

Zimbabwean(s)

Net migration rate

-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.5% (2016)

Physicians density

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

15,418,674 (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

1.99% (2023 est.)

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% (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 49% of population

improved: total

total: 64.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 96.1% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 51% of population

unimproved: total

total: 35.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.9% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2013)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.99 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.63 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.5% (2020 est.)

male

21.8% (2020 est.)

total

11.7% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.51 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

named after a village of Harare at the site of the present capital; the village name derived from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, whose name meant "he who does not sleep"

geographic coordinates

17 49 S, 31 02 E

name

Harare

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Zimbabwe; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; amendments to constitutional chapters on fundamental human rights and freedoms and on agricultural lands also require approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017

history

previous 1965 (at Rhodesian independence), 1979 (Lancaster House Agreement), 1980 (at Zimbabwean independence); latest final draft completed January 2013, approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013, effective 22 May 2013

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Zimbabwe

conventional short form

Zimbabwe

etymology

takes its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (13th-15th century) and its capital of Great Zimbabwe, the largest stone structure in pre-colonial southern Africa

former

Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Elaine M. FRENCH (since August 2022)

email address and website

consularharare@state.govhttps://zw.usembassy.gov/

embassy

2 Lorraine Drive, Bluffhill, Harare

FAX

[263] 24-233-4320

mailing address

2180 Harare Place, Washington DC  20521-2180

telephone

[263] 867-701-1000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Tadeous Tafirenyika CHIFAMBA (since 7 July 2021)

email address and website

general@zimembassydc.orghttps://zimembassydc.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 483-9326

telephone

[1] (202) 332-7100

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to National Assembly

chief of state

President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023); First Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 4 September 2023); note - Robert Gabriel MUGABE resigned on 21 November 2017, after ruling for 37 years

election results

2023: Emmerson MNANGAGWA elected president in 1st round of voting; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 52.6%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44%, Wilbert MUBAIWA (MDC) 1.20%, other 3%2018: Emmerson MNANGAGWA elected president in 1st round of voting; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 50.8%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44.3%, Thokozani KHUPE (MDC-N) 0.9%, other 3%

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 23 August 2023 (next to be held in 2028); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership

head of government

President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023); Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 4 September 2023)

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 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

presidential republic

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, ATMIS, 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, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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 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; Constitutional Court judge appointment NA; judges serve nonrenewable 15-year terms

subordinate courts

High Court; Labor Court; Administrative Court; regional magistrate courts; customary law courts; 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: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, 18 reserved for the National Council Chiefs, and 2 reserved for members with disabilities; members serve 5-year terms)National Assembly (280 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 and 10 additional seats reserved for candidates aged between 21 and 35 directly elected by proportional representation, members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 33, CCC- 27, Chiefs 18, people with disabilities 2; composition - men 44, women 36, percent of women 45%National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 177, CCC-93; composition - men 194, women 86, percent of women 30.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 34.3%

elections

Senate - last held for elected member on 23 August 2023 (next to be held in 2028)National Assembly - last held on 23 August 2023 (next to be held in 2028) note: a by election was held on 11 November 2023 due to the death of a candidate during the August general election; a special by election was held on 9 December 2023 after nine opposition lawmakers were removed from their seats and disqualified from running again; another by election is set for 3 February 2024 

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

note: adopted 1994

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore Safari Areas (n); Great Zimbabwe National Monument (c); Khami Ruins National Monument (c); Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (n); Matobo Hills (c)

total World Heritage Sites

5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

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

Citizens Coalition for Change [Nelson CHAMISA] Movement for Democratic Change - MDC-T [Douglas MWONZORA]National People's Congress- NPC- [Wilbert MUBAIWA] Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA]Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Michael NKOMO]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugar cane, maize, milk, tobacco, cassava, vegetables, bananas, beef, cotton, oranges

Budget

expenditures

$23 million (2018 est.)

revenues

$17 million (2018 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

-$1.38 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

$920.472 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$1.096 billion (2020 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$10.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$9.357 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

low income Sub-Saharan economy; political instability, protest crackdowns, and COVID-19 have damaged economic potential; reliant on natural resource extraction and agriculture; endemic corruption; ongoing hyperinflation

Exchange rates

Currency

Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2018

322.355 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

16.446 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

51.329 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

88.552 (2021 est.)

note

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

Exports

Exports 2018

$5.178 billion (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$5.267 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$5.263 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, tobacco, iron alloys, nickel, diamonds, jewelry (2019)

Exports - partners

United Arab Emirates 40%, South Africa 23%, Mozambique 9% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

25.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

24% (2017 est.)

household consumption

77.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-39.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

12.6% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

12% (2017 est.)

industry

22.2% (2017 est.)

services

65.8% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$21.441 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

50.3 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

40.4% (1995)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

Imports 2018

$7.642 billion (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$5.398 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$5.489 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, delivery trucks, packaged medicines, fertilizers, tractors (2019)

Imports - partners

South Africa 41%, Singapore 23%, China 8% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

6.37% (2021 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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

255.3% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

557.2% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

98.55% (2021 est.)

Labor force

7.916 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.3% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

69.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

82.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$33.832 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$31.188 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$33.829 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

-6.33% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-7.82% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

8.47% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$2,200 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$2,000 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$2,100 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$151.241 million (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$33.405 million (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$838.78 million (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

7.21% (of GDP) (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: data include both unemployment and underemployment; true unemployment is unknown and, under current economic conditions, unknowable

Unemployment rate 2019

4.83% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

5.35% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

5.17% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

8.5%

male

6.2%

total

7.3% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

3.963 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

3.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

7.902 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

3.579 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

327,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

3.888 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

502 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

10,928,240,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

504 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports

1.612 billion kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.473 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.491 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

31.6% (2021)

electrification - total population

48.9% (2021)

electrification - urban areas

85.3% (2021)

population without electricity

7 million (2020)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

32.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

65.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

11.516 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

27,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

800 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

26,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2020 est.)

total

203,461 (2020 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; analog TV only, no digital service (2017)

Internet country code

.zw

Internet users

percent of population

35% (2021 est.)

total

5.6 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 89 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

Zimbabwe’s telcos continue to be affected by the country’s poor economy; this has been exacerbated by the significant economic difficulties related to the pandemic; revenue has also been under pressure from a number of recent regulatory measures and additional taxes imposed by the cash-strapped government; inflation has become so high that year-on-year revenue comparisons since 2019 have been difficult to assess meaningfully; the three MNOs continue to invest in network upgrades, partly supported by government efforts and cash released from the Universal Service Fund; as a result of these investments, LTE networks have expanded steadily, though services remain concentrated in urban areas; international bandwidth has improved since fiber links to several submarine cables were established via neighboring countries; the expansion of 3G and LTE-based mobile broadband services has meant that most of the population has access to the internet; the government has started a national broadband scheme aimed at delivering a 1Mb/s service nationally by 2030; investment in fixed broadband infrastructure has also resulted in a slow but steady growth in the number of DSL connections, and also fiber subscriptions; during 2021, most growth in the fixed broadband segment has been with fiber connections (2022)

international

country code - 263; fiber-optic connections to neighboring states provide access to international networks via undersea cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 5 international digital gateway exchanges

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

243,421 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

89 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

14,257,590 (2021 est.)

Airports

196 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

17

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

179

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Z

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

670,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

285,539 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Pipelines

270 km refined products (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Binga, Kariba (Zambezi)

Railways

narrow gauge

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

total

3,427 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

18,481 km (2019)

total

97,267 km (2019)

unpaved

78,786 km (2019)

Waterways

223 km (2022) some navigation possible on Lake Kariba (223 km)

Military - note

ZDF’s primary responsibilities are protecting the country’s sovereignty and territory and securing its borders; it also has a considerable role in domestic security and has continued to be active in the country’s politics since the 2017 military-assisted political transition; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and has provided troops to the SADC deployment to Mozambique; Zimbabwe has defense ties with China and Russia; the Army has approximately 5 light infantry brigades, plus brigades of mechanized infantry, presidential guards, special operations, and artillery; the Air Force has a few dozen operational Chinese- and Russian-made combat aircraft and helicopters the ZDF was formed after independence from the former Rhodesian Army and the two guerrilla forces that opposed it during the Rhodesian Civil War (aka "Bush War") of the 1970s, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA); the ZDF intervened in the Mozambique Civil War (1983-1992), the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War (1998-2003), and the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) during the late 1990s (2023)

Military and security forces

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ)Ministry of Home Affairs: Zimbabwe Republic Police (2023)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 30,000 active-duty troops, including about 4,000 Air Force personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the ZDF inventory is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older Chinese equipment; since the early 2000s, Zimbabwe has been under an arms embargo from the EU, as well as targeted sanctions from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

1.7% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18-24 for officer cadets; 18-30 for technical/specialist personnel); no conscription (2023)

Disputes - international

Zimbabwe-Mozambique: none identifiedZimbabwe-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migrationZimbabwe-Zambia: 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; in May 2021, Botswana and Zambia agreed in principle to let Zimbabwe be a partner in the bridge project as it enters its lasts phase

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

12,014 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 9,931 (Mozambique) (2023)

Space agency/agencies

Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA; established in 2019 and officially launched in 2021; under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development) (2023)

Space program overview

has a nascent program with the goal of utilizing space technologies in economic development; particularly interested in remote sensing capabilities to assist with monitoring or managing agriculture and food security, climate change, disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and disasters, and natural resources, as well as weather forecasting; part of a joint project (BIRDS-5) with Japan, which seeks to promote the first steps towards creating an indigenous space program by designing, building, testing, launching, and operating the first satellites for participating countries (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

10.98 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

12.1 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

13.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Food insecurity

widespread lack of access

due to high food prices - based on a government assessment, an estimated 3.8 million people are expected to be in need of humanitarian assistance between January and March 2023; this number is higher than the level estimated in the first quarter of 2022; the downturn in food security conditions is largely on account of poor food access resulting from prevailing high food prices and reduced incomes owing to the effects of an economic downturn; a decline in cereal production in 2022 has also aggravated conditions (2023)

Land use

agricultural land

42.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 31.3% (2018 est.)

forest

39.5% (2018 est.)

other

18% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0.4% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

1.61% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

20 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3.04 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

650 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,449,752 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

231,960 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

16% (2005 est.)