Introduction
Background
The Kingdom of Zimbabwe was the largest trading state in the area until the mid-15th century. UK colonization in the late 1800s led to the creation of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. UN sanctions and an uprising led to free elections in 1979 and the creation of an independent country of Zimbabwe in 1980.
Geography
Area
total : 390,757 sq km
land: 386,847 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
Climate
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Natural resources
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
People and Society
Population
total: 17,150,352
Ethnic groups
African 99.6% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other (includes Caucasian, Asiatic, mixed race) 0.4% (2022 est.)
Languages
Shona (official, most widely spoken) 80.9%, Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken) 11.5%, English (official, traditionally used for official business) 0.3%, 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa) 7%, other 0.3% (2022 est.)
Religions
Apostolic Sect 40.3%, Pentecostal 17%, Protestant 13.8%, other Christian 7.8%, Roman Catholic 6.4%, African traditionalist 5%, other 1.5% (includes Muslim, Jewish, Hindu), none 8.3% (2022 est.)
Population growth rate
1.91% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Harare
Executive branch
chief of state: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023)
head of government: Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 11 September 2023)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (80 seats) and the National Assembly (280 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Tadeous Tafirenyika CHIFAMBA (since 7 July 2021)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Elaine M. FRENCH (since August 2022)
Economy
Economic overview
low income Sub-Saharan economy; political instability and endemic corruption have prevented reforms and stalled debt restructuring; new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency latest effort to combat ongoing hyperinflation; reliant on natural resource extraction, agriculture and remittances
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$58.583 billion (2023 est.)
$55.817 billion (2022 est.)
$52.399 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$3,500 (2023 est.)
$3,400 (2022 est.)
$3,300 (2021 est.)
Exports
$7.65 billion (2022 est.)
$6.462 billion (2021 est.)
$5.263 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 57%, South Africa 17%, China 7%, Belgium 4%, Mozambique 2% (2022)
Exports - commodities
gold, nickel, tobacco, iron alloys, diamonds (2022)
Imports
$10.126 billion (2022 est.)
$7.964 billion (2021 est.)
$5.489 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
South Africa 39%, China 15%, Singapore 12%, UAE 6%, Mozambique 4% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, soybean oil, electricity (2022)
Page last updated: Tuesday, September 03, 2024
