Statistical information Zimbabwe 2017
Zimbabwe in the World
Zimbabwe - Introduction 2017
top of pageBackground:
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 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 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 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 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.
In 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 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 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 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.
Zimbabwe - Geography 2017
top of pageLocation: Southern Africa between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S 30 00 E
Map reference: Africa
Area
Total: 390,757 km²
Land: 386,847 km²
Water: 3,910 km²
Rank: 62
Comparative: about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries
Total: 3,229 km
Border countries: (4) Botswana 834 km; Mozambique 1402 km; South Africa 230 km; Zambia 763 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
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
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m: highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources: coal chromium ore asbestos gold nickel copper iron ore vanadium lithium tin platinum group metals
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 42.5%
arable land: 10.9%
permanent crops: 0.3%
permanent pasture: 31.3%
permanent crops: 0.3%
permanent pasture: 31.3%
Forest: 39.5%
Other: 18%
Irrigated land: 1740 km² (2012)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
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 km³; 43 m³i)
Zimbabwe - People 2017
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: Aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo population distribution is fairly even with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half: 13,805,084
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
Rank: 72
Growth rate: 1.56% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 69
Below poverty line: 72.3% (2012 est.)
Nationality
Noun: Zimbabwean
Adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups: African 99.4% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group) other 0.4% unspecified 0.2% (2012 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)
Religions: Protestant 82.7% (includes Apostolic 41.8% Pentecostal 25.2% other 15.7%) Roman Catholic 6.7% other Christian 4.6% traditional religion 0.6% Muslim 0.4% other 0.1% none 4.9% (2015 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 out migration – 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.
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 out migration – 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.
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 38.9%
15-24 years: 20.47%
25-54 years: 31.9%
55-64 years: 4.27%
65 years and over: 4.46% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 79.5
Youth dependency ratio: 74.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.1
Potential support ratio: 19.7
Median age
Total: 20 years
Male: 19.6 years
Female: 20.4 years
Rank: 188
Population growth rate: 1.56% (2017 est.)
Rank: 69
Birth rate: 34.2 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 25
Death rate: 10.2 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 36
Net migration rate: -8.5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 210
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
Urbanization
Urban population: 32.2% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.44% annual rate of change
Major urban areas
Population: HARARE (capital) 1.501 million (2015)
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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Desertification Endangered Species Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male/female
25-54 years: 1.1 male/female
55-64 years: 0.58 male/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birth: 20 years
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio: 443 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
Rank: 24
Infant mortality rate
Total: 32.7 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 36.8 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 28.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 57
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 60.4 years
Male: 58.3 years
Female: 62.5 years
Rank: 203
Total fertility rate: 3.98 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 37
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.8% (2015)
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.)
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.)
Current health expenditure
Physicians density: 0.07 physicians/1000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1000 population (2011)
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.)
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.)
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 13.5% (2016 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 6
People living with hivaids: 1.3 million (2016 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 8
Deaths: 30,000 (2016 est.)
Deaths rank: 8
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Animal contact disease: rabies
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 15.5% (2016)
Rank: 126
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.2% (2014)
Rank: 69
Education expenditures: 8.4% of GDP (2014)
Rank: 155
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
Total population: 86.5%
Male: 88.5%
Female: 84.6%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 10 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 10 years
Youth unemployment
Zimbabwe - Government 2017
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
Conventional short form: Zimbabwe
Former: Southern Rhodesia Rhodesia
Etymology: takes its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe and its capital of Great Zimbabwe the largest stone structure in pre-colonial southern Africa
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital
Name: Harare
Geographic coordinates: 17 49 S 31 02 E
Time difference: UTC+2
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
Dependent areas
Independence: 18 April 1980 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day 18 April (1980)
Constitution
History: previous 1965 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
Amendments: proposed by the Senate or by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament and assent by 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
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law Roman-Dutch civil law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: Executive President Emmerson MNANGAGWA ; First Vice President (vacant); Second Vice President Phelekezela MPHOKO; note - Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) resigned 11/21/17; First Vice President Emmerson MNANGAGWA was dismissed by President MUGABE on 6 November 2017
Head of government: Executive President Emmerson MNANGAGWA ; note - following the 31 July 2013 presidential election the position of prime minister was abolished
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president responsible to House of Assembly
Electionsappointments: each presidential candidate nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters 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
Election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 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
Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate 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)
Elections: last held on 31 July 2013
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 - ZANU-PF 62.4% MDC-T 30.3% MDC-N 4.7% other 0.7% independent 1.9%; seats by party - ZANU-PF 196 MDC-T 70 MDC-N 2 independent 2
Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court ; 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
Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe People First or ZimFirst [Maxwell SHUMBA]
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
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ammon MUTEMBWA
In the us chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] 332-7,100
In the us FAX: [1] 483-9,326
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS Jr.
From the us embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue Harare
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 3,340 Harare
From the us telephone: [263] 250-593 through 250-594
From the us FAX: [263] 796-488 or 722-618
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
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]
Lyrics and music: Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
Note: adopted 1994
National heritage
Zimbabwe - Economy 2017
top of pageEconomy 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 in the period 2010-13 before slowing to roughly 4% in 2014 due to poor harvests low diamond revenues and decreased investment. Growth turned negative in 2016. Lower mineral prices 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. Adoption of a multi-currency basket in early 2009 - which allowed currencies such as the Botswana pula the South Africa rand and the US dollar to be used locally - reduced inflation below 10% per year. 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 though transactions were predominantly carried out in US dollars and South African rand until 2016 when the rand’s devaluation and instability led to near-exclusive use of the US dollar. The government in November 2016 began releasing bond notes a parallel currency legal only in Zimbabwe which the government claims will have a one-to-one exchange ratio with the US dollar to ease cash shortages. Bond notes began trading at a discount of up to 10% in the black market by the end of 2016.
Zimbabwe’s government entered a second Staff Monitored Program with the IMF in 2014 and undertook other measures to reengage with international financial institutions. Zimbabwe repaid roughly $108 million in arrears to the IMF in October 2016 but financial observers note that Zimbabwe is unlikely to gain new financing because the government has not disclosed how it plans to repay more than $1.7 billion in arrears to the World Bank and African Development Bank. International financial institutions want Zimbabwe to implement significant fiscal and structural reforms before granting new loans. Foreign and domestic investment continues to be hindered by the lack of land tenure and titling the inability to repatriate dividends to investors overseas and the lack of clarity regarding the government’s Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act.
Until early 2009 the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) routinely printed money to fund the budget deficit causing hyperinflation. Adoption of a multi-currency basket in early 2009 - which allowed currencies such as the Botswana pula the South Africa rand and the US dollar to be used locally - reduced inflation below 10% per year. 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 though transactions were predominantly carried out in US dollars and South African rand until 2016 when the rand’s devaluation and instability led to near-exclusive use of the US dollar. The government in November 2016 began releasing bond notes a parallel currency legal only in Zimbabwe which the government claims will have a one-to-one exchange ratio with the US dollar to ease cash shortages. Bond notes began trading at a discount of up to 10% in the black market by the end of 2016.
Zimbabwe’s government entered a second Staff Monitored Program with the IMF in 2014 and undertook other measures to reengage with international financial institutions. Zimbabwe repaid roughly $108 million in arrears to the IMF in October 2016 but financial observers note that Zimbabwe is unlikely to gain new financing because the government has not disclosed how it plans to repay more than $1.7 billion in arrears to the World Bank and African Development Bank. International financial institutions want Zimbabwe to implement significant fiscal and structural reforms before granting new loans. Foreign and domestic investment continues to be hindered by the lack of land tenure and titling the inability to repatriate dividends to investors overseas and the lack of clarity regarding the government’s Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$32.38 billion (2016 est.)
$31.77 billion (2015 est.)
$30.98 billion (2014 est.)
$31.77 billion (2015 est.)
$30.98 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 133
Real gdp growth rate:
0.7% (2016 est.)
1.4% (2015 est.)
2.8% (2014 est.)
1.4% (2015 est.)
2.8% (2014 est.)
Rank: 183
Real gdp per capita:
$2,200 (2016 est.)
$2,300 (2015 est.)
$2,300 (2014 est.)
$2,300 (2015 est.)
$2,300 (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 206
Gross national saving:
15.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
3.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
4.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
3.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 164
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 83.8%
Government consumption: 21.6%
Investment in fixed capital: 13.5%
Investment in inventories: 0%
Exports of goods and services: 25.9%
Imports of goods and services: -44.9%
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 12.5%
Industry: 27%
Services: 60.6%
Agriculture products: tobacco corn cotton wheat coffee sugarcane peanuts; sheep goats pigs
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
Industrial production growth rate: -3% (2016 est.)
Rank: 180
Labor force: 7.701 million (2016 est.)
Rank: 65
By occupation agriculture: 66%
By occupation industry: 10%
By occupation services: 24%
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
95% (2009 est.)
80% (2005 est.)
80% (2005 est.)
Note: data include both unemployment and underemployment; true unemployment is unknown and under current economic conditions unknowable
Rank: 217
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line: 72.3% (2012 est.)
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2%
Highest 10: 40.4%
Distribution of family income gini index:
50.1 (2006)
50.1 (1995)
50.1 (1995)
Rank: 18
Budget
Revenues: $3.5 billion
Expenditures: $4.9 billion
Surplus or deficit: -9.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 200
Taxes and other revenues: 24.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 120
Public debt:
69.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
59.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
59.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 52
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
-1.6% (2016 est.)
-2.8% (2015 est.)
-2.8% (2015 est.)
Rank: 6
Central bank discount rate:
7.17% (31 December 2010)
975% (31 December 2007)
975% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 46
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2016 est.)
17% (31 December 2015 est.)
17% (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 43
Stock of narrow money:
$2.274 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.192 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.192 billion (31 December 2015 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
Rank: 126
Stock of broad money:
$3.617 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.753 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$3.753 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 137
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.398 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$5.203 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$5.203 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 124
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.073 billion (13 April 2015 est.)
$11.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$10.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$11.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$10.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 92
Current account balance:
$-662 million (2016 est.)
$-1.519 billion (2015 est.)
$-1.519 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 135
Exports:
$3.366 billion (2016 est.)
$3.614 billion (2015 est.)
$3.614 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 118
Commodities: platinum cotton tobacco gold ferroalloys textiles/clothing
Partners: South Africa 79.5% Mozambique 9.5% UAE 4.1% (2016)
Imports:
$5.351 billion (2016 est.)
$6.062 billion (2015 est.)
$6.062 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 119
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment other manufactures chemicals fuels food products
Partners: South Africa 46.6% Zambia 24% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$407.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$433.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$433.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 147
Debt external:
$10.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$8.735 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$8.735 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 112
Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
$3.518 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$3.199 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.199 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 109
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
$271.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$238.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$238.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 96
Exchange rates:
Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -
1 (2016 est.)
NA (2013)
234.25 (2010)
1 (2016 est.)
NA (2013)
234.25 (2010)
Note: the dollar was adopted as a legal currency in 2009; since then the Zimbabwean dollar has experienced hyperinflation and is essentially worthless
Zimbabwe - Energy 2017
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 8,500,000
Access electrification total population: 40%
Access electrification urban areas: 80%
Access electrification rural areas: 21%
Production: 9.384 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 106
Consumption: 7.63 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 106
Exports: 1.239 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Exports rank: 54
Imports: 1.139 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Imports rank: 64
Installed generating capacity: 2.129 million kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 110
Generation sources fossil fuels: 58% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 135
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 215
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 37.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 56
Generation sources other renewable sources: 5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 97
Coal
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 217
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 216
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 216
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 217
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 217
Products consumption: 29,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 124
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 217
Products imports: 26,390 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 104
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 217
Consumption: 0 m³ (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 152
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 215
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 215
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 212
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 11 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 102
Energy consumption per capita
Zimbabwe - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 305,720
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2
Fixed lines rank: 113
Mobile cellular total: 12,878,926
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89
Mobile cellular rank: 77
Telephone system
General assessment: competition has driven rapid expansion of telecommunications particularly cellular voice and mobile broadband in recent years; continued economic instability and infrastructure limitations such as reliable power hinder progress
Domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, fiber-optic cable, VSAT terminals, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is most readily available in Harare and major towns; two government owned and two private cellular providers; 3G and VoIP services are widely available with 4G/LTE service being deployed (2017)
International: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 5 international digital gateway exchanges; fiber-optic connections to neighboring states provide access to international networks via undersea cable (2017)
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
Users total: 3,363,256 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 23.1% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 94
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 187,310 (2017 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2017 est.)
Rank: 109
Zimbabwe - Military 2017
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2016)
2.34% of GDP (2015)
2.32% of GDP (2014)
2.34% of GDP (2013)
2.26% of GDP (2012)
2.34% of GDP (2015)
2.32% of GDP (2014)
2.34% of GDP (2013)
2.26% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 45
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2012)
Space program
Terrorist groups
Zimbabwe - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 370,164 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 962,642
Note: mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z (2016)
Airports: 196 (2013)
Rank: 29
With paved runways total: 17 (2013)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3 (2013)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (2013)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5 (2013)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7 (2013)
With unpaved runways total: 179 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 104 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 72 (2013)
Heliports
Pipelines: 270 km refined products (2013)
Railways
Total: 3,427 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 3,427 km
Note: 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2014)
Rank: 57
Roadways
Total: 97,267 km (2002)
Paved: 18,481 km (2002)
Unpaved: 78,786 km (2002)
Rank: 49
Waterways
Note: (some navigation possible on Lake Kariba) (2011)
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
River port: Binga, Kariba (Zambezi)
Zimbabwe - Transnational issues 2017
top of pageDisputes international
Rank: li>a href='../rankorder/rankorderguide.html'>Guide to Country Comparisons
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 300,000
Illicit drugs: transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin mandrax and methamphetamines en route to South Africa
You found a piece of the puzzle
Please click here to complete it
Please click here to complete it
