CapitalHarare
Population17,472,752
Area390,757 km²
GDP per capita$3,500
LanguagesShona, Ndebele, English, 13 minority languages, other
CurrencyZimbabwean dollars
Life Expectancy67.2 yr
Governmentpresidential republic
Introduction
Background
The San people, known for their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, were the original inhabitants of the region that would later be identified as Zimbabwe. Around A.D. 500, agricultural groups migrated into the area during the Bantu expansion, leading to the emergence of Shona-speaking communities in the Limpopo valley and the Zimbabwean highlands by the 9th century. These communities engaged in trade with Arab merchants along the Indian Ocean coast and formed the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century. Subsequently, a succession of influential trade-oriented Shona states arose, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (approximately 1220-1450), the Kingdom of Mutapa (approximately 1450-1760), and the Rozwi Empire. The Rozwi Empire managed to drive out Portuguese settlers from the Zimbabwean plateau, but the Ndebele clan, led by Zulu King MZILIKAZI, ultimately conquered the area in 1838 amidst a period known as the Mfecane, characterized by conflict and population displacement.
During the 1880s, colonists affiliated with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) arrived and secured a written concession for mining rights from Ndebele King LOBENGULA. The king later repudiated this concession, accusing the BSAC representatives of fraud. The BSAC annexed Mashonaland and subsequently subdued Matabeleland during the First Matabele War from 1893 to 1894, establishing corporate governance over the region. In 1923, the United Kingdom annexed BSAC territories located south of the Zambezi River, which then became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The 1930 Land Apportionment Act imposed restrictions on Black land ownership and instituted regulations that favored the White minority for many years. A new constitution introduced in 1961 further entrenched White minority governance.
In 1965, the administration under White Prime Minister Ian SMITH declared independence from the UK unilaterally. The United Kingdom did not acknowledge Rhodesia’s independence and sought increased voting rights for the Black majority population. A combination of international diplomatic efforts and a rebellion by Black Zimbabweans culminated in biracial elections in 1979 and eventual independence as Zimbabwe in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the leader of the rebellion, became the first prime minister and remained in power (as president from 1987) until 2017. In the mid-1980s, the government executed a brutal campaign known as Gukurahundi, which involved the torture and murder of thousands of civilians in a bid to suppress dissent. Economic mismanagement and erratic land redistribution policies periodically devastated the economy. The general elections held in 2002, 2008, and 2013 were fraught with significant flaws and widespread condemnation, yet they allowed MUGABE to retain the presidency. In 2017, Vice President Emmerson MNANGAGWA ascended to the presidency following a military intervention that compelled MUGABE to step down, and MNANGAGWA solidified his power by marginalizing rivals, including Grace MUGABE (Robert MUGABE’s wife). In 2018, MNANGAGWA was elected president, continuing the government's long-standing practice of violently suppressing protests and politicizing state institutions. Under MNANGAGWA, economic conditions remain critical.
Geography
Area
land
386,847 sq km
water
3,910 sq km
total
390,757 sq km
Climate
tropical climate; influenced by altitude; wet season from November to March
Terrain
predominantly a high plateau with a more elevated central plateau (high veld); mountainous regions to the east
Land use
other
22.3% (2023 est.)
forest
35.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
41.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 10.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa and Zambia
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m
highest point
Inyangani 2,592 m
mean elevation
961 m
Irrigated land
1,740 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
3,229 km
border countries
Botswana 834 km; Mozambique 1,402 km; South Africa 230 km; Zambia 763 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
experiences periodic droughts; instances of floods and intense storms are uncommon
Geography - note
landlocked nation; the Zambezi River creates a natural boundary with Zambia; during peak flood (February-April), the impressive Victoria Falls on the river constitutes the largest curtain of falling water globally; Lake Kariba, situated on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is recognized as the largest reservoir in terms of volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)
Natural resources
resources include coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, and platinum group metals
Area - comparative
approximately four times the area of Indiana; marginally larger than Montana
Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Population distribution
excluding the major urban centers of Harare and Bulawayo, the population is relatively evenly distributed, with a slightly higher concentration in the eastern region, as depicted in this population distribution map
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
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 km
note: [s] indicates river source country; [m] indicates river mouth country
People & Society
Literacy
male
93.1% (2019 est.)
female
93.4% (2019 est.)
total population
93.2% (2019 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.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.92 male(s)/female
total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.68 male(s)/female
Birth rate
28.18 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
20.3 years
total
21.3 years (2025 est.)
female
22 years
Population
male
8,503,108
total
17,472,752 (2025 est.)
female
8,969,644
Nationality
noun
Zimbabwean(s)
adjective
Zimbabwean
Tobacco use
male
17.6% (2025 est.)
total
8.4% (2025 est.)
female
0.7% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
32.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
38.3% (male 3,315,075/female 3,254,643)
15-64 years
57.8% (male 4,758,120/female 5,152,773)
65 years and over
3.9% (2024 est.) (male 270,595/female 399,146)
Ethnic groups
African 99.6% (mainly Shona; Ndebele ranks as the second largest ethnic group), other (comprising Caucasian, Asiatic, mixed race) 0.4% (2022 estimate)
Child marriage
men married by age 18
1.9% (2019)
women married by age 15
5.4% (2019)
women married by age 18
33.7% (2019)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
72.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
65.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
14.7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
6.8 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
2.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.42 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 47.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 62.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 92.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 52.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 37.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 7.2% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
17.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
37 deaths/1,000 live births
total
32.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
29.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.82% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.68 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
beyond the principal urban centers of Harare and Bulawayo, the population is distributed relatively evenly, with a slight increase in total numbers observed in the eastern region, as depicted in this population distribution map
Life expectancy at birth
male
65.6 years
female
68.8 years
total population
67.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
358 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 50.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 65.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 49.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 34.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
3.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.578 million HARARE (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
15.5% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.3 years (2015 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.2% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.6% (2024 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; influenced by elevation; wet season (November through March)
Land use
other
22.3% (2023 est.)
forest
35.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
41.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 10.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
32.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.45 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
21.8% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; degradation of land; pollution of air and water; illegal hunting; contamination from mining activities including toxic waste and heavy metals
Total water withdrawal
municipal
547.078 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
81.352 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
4.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
12.578 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
7.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
4.949 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: seven equal horizontal stripes of green (top), yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green, accompanied by a white isosceles triangle outlined in black on the left side; within the triangle, a yellow bird is positioned atop a five-pointed red star
meaning: the bird symbolizes the nation's extensive history; white signifies peace, green denotes agriculture, yellow represents mineral wealth, red commemorates the blood shed for independence, and black stands for the people
Capital
name
Harare
etymology
named after a village located in Harare where the current capital stands; the name of the village originates from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, which translates to "he who does not sleep"
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
17 49 S, 31 02 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must hold Zimbabwean citizenship; if the child is born outside of marriage, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previously amended in 1965 (at the time of Rhodesian independence), 1979 (Lancaster House Agreement), and 1980 (at Zimbabwean independence); the most recent final draft was completed in January 2013, approved by referendum on 16 March 2013, ratified by Parliament on 9 May 2013, and came into effect on 22 May 2013
amendment process
proposed either by the Senate or the National Assembly; to pass, it requires a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of Parliament and approval from the president of the republic; amendments to constitutional sections regarding fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as agricultural lands, also necessitate majority approval in a referendum
Country name
former
Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
etymology
derives its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (13th-15th century) and its capital, Great Zimbabwe, which was constructed from stone; the term Zimbabwe originates from the Bantu phrase zimba we bahwe, meaning "houses of stones;" the previous name, Rhodesia, was taken from British colonial administrator Cecil RHODES
conventional long form
Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form
Zimbabwe
Independence
18 April 1980 (from the UK)
Legal system
a mixed legal system incorporating English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (comprising the chief justice and four judges); Constitutional Court (comprising the chief and deputy chief justices alongside nine judges)
subordinate courts
High Court; Labor Court; Administrative Court; regional magistrate courts; customary law courts; special courts
judge selection and term of office
justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president based on the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent entity consisting of the chief justice, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, the attorney general, and two to three members appointed by the president; justices typically serve until the age of 65 but may choose to serve until 70; the process for appointing Constitutional Court judges is not applicable; judges are on nonrenewable 15-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
the Cabinet is appointed by the president and is accountable to the National Assembly
chief of state
President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023)
election results
2023: Emmerson MNANGAGWA was reelected president in the first round; vote percentages - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 52.6%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44%, Wilbert MUBAIWA (NPC) 1.2%, others 2.2%
2018: Emmerson MNANGAGWA was elected president in the first round; vote percentages - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 50.7%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44.4%, Thokozani KHUPE (MDC-N) 0.9%, others 4%
head of government
Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 11 September 2023)
most recent election date
23 August 2023
election/appointment process
each presidential candidate must be nominated with a nomination paper endorsed by at least 10 registered voters (with at least one candidate from each province) and is directly elected by an absolute-majority popular vote, with two rounds if necessary, for a term of five years (no term limits); co-vice presidents are drawn from party leadership
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red, black, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
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)
Political parties
Citizens Coalition for Change
Movement for Democratic Change or MDC-T
National People's Congress or NPC
Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF
Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Ndebele] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)
history
adopted in 1994; lyrics in the country's three principal languages were authored by Zimbabwean poet and academic MUTSWAIRO
lyrics/music
Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
National symbol(s)
Zimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily
Administrative divisions
8 provinces and 2 cities* that hold provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
280 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
45161
expected date of next election
August 2028
percentage of women in chamber
30.1%
parties elected and seats per party
ZANU-PF (175); Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (104)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
80 (60 directly elected; 20 indirectly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
45161
expected date of next election
August 2028
percentage of women in chamber
44.3%
parties elected and seats per party
ZANU-PF (33); Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (27)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 483-9326
chancery
1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 332-7100
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sarah BHOROMA (since 12 November 2024)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://zimembassydc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[263] 24-233-4320
embassy
2 Lorraine Drive, Bluffhill, Harare
telephone
[263] 867-701-1000
mailing address
2180 Harare Place, Washington DC 20521-2180
chief of mission
Ambassador Pamela M. TREMONT (since August 2024)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://zw.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
has not issued a declaration of jurisdiction to the ICJ; is a non-party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$17 million (2018 est.)
expenditures
$23 million (2018 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$6.575 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$7.453 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$7.603 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$8.104 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$9.569 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$10.293 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
mining (including coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, and various metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel production, wood manufacturing, cement, chemicals, fertilizers, apparel and footwear, food products, and beverages
Labor force
6.386 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
69.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
9.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
9.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
9.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
51.329 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
88.552 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
374.954 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
3,509.172 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
3,266.332 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$6.671 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
characterized as a low-income economy in Sub-Saharan Africa; political turmoil and widespread corruption have hindered reforms and delayed debt restructuring; the introduction of the new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency is the latest initiative to address ongoing hyperinflation; the economy is dependent on natural resource extraction, agriculture, and remittances
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
10.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
8.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
8.6% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 45%, China 18%, South Africa 15%, Mozambique 4%, Hong Kong 2% (2023)
Imports - partners
South Africa 37%, China 15%, Bahamas, The 5%, Singapore 5%, UAE 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$3,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, beef, maize, cabbages, potatoes, tomatoes, milk, onions, bananas, wheat (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, tobacco, nickel, minerals, diamonds (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, soybean oil, stone processing machines (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
$348.215 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
$304.966 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$133.877 million (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
7.2% (of GDP) (2018 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$44.188 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
91.5% (2024 est.)
government consumption
12.5% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0.9% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
3.6% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
22.1% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-30.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
38.3% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
557.2% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
98.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
104.7% (2022 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
2.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$53.399 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$56.249 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$57.391 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
12.9% (2024 est.)
total
14% (2024 est.)
female
15.4% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$598.622 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$115.53 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$484.973 million (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
31.8% (2024 est.)
services
55.8% (2024 est.)
agriculture
5.4% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.5% (2017 est.)
highest 10%
34.8% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
50.3 (2020 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
984,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
71,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
production
7.968 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
6.705 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
502 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
395 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports
2.297 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
8.346 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
2.491 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.864 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
33.7%
electrification - urban areas
89%
electrification - total population
50.1% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
10.855 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
65.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
38% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The government possesses all regional radio and television stations; foreign shortwave transmissions and satellite television are accessible; however, in rural regions, television broadcast access is very restricted; only analog television is available, with no digital services provided (2017)
Internet country code
.zw
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
310,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
15.7 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
94 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
269,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Airports
144 (2025)
Railways
total
3,427 km (2014)
narrow gauge
3,427 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified)
Heliports
5 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Z
Military & Security
Military - note
The Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) are primarily tasked with safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as securing its borders. Additionally, the ZDF participates in domestic security and socio-economic development initiatives and has remained engaged in the political landscape of Zimbabwe since the military-assisted political shift in 2017.
The ZDF is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and contributed personnel for the SADC military mission in Mozambique from 2021 to 2024. Furthermore, Zimbabwe maintains defense relationships with both China and Russia.
Established following independence from the former Rhodesian Army, the ZDF emerged from the two guerrilla factions that fought against it during the Rhodesian Civil War (also known as the "Bush War") in the 1970s: the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). The ZDF has participated in several conflicts, including 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 (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Comprising the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ).
Ministry of Home Affairs: Includes the Zimbabwe Republic Police (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Voluntary military service eligibility ranges from 18 to 22 years for both men and women (enlisted personnel); 18 to 24 years for officer cadets; and 18 to 30 years for technical/specialist roles; there is no conscription in place (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The armaments inventory of the ZDF largely consists of equipment from the Russian/Soviet era and Chinese sources, with smaller amounts of older or outdated materials originating from Brazil, France, Italy, South Africa, the UK, and the US (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The Zimbabwe Defense Forces have approximately 30,000 active personnel (2025).
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the government failed to show significant improvements in its efforts to combat trafficking compared to the prior reporting period, resulting in Zimbabwe staying on the Tier 2 Watch List for the second year in a row; for additional information, visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/zimbabwe/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
32,675 (2024 est.)
refugees
22,432 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
The Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA), founded in 2019 and officially inaugurated in 2021 (2025).
Space program overview
It has initiated a developing program aimed at utilizing space technologies for economic growth, which includes remote sensing capabilities to support the monitoring and management of agriculture, food security, climate change, disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and disasters, natural resources, as well as weather forecasting; it has collaborated with Japan and Russia (2025).
Key space-program milestones
2020 - Launched a program named BIRDS-5, backed by Japan, to foster the creation of a domestic space program through the design, construction, testing, launching, and operation of the first satellites for participating nations.
2021 - Set up a satellite ground communications station and finalized a national wetlands mapping initiative.
2022 - Developed the first nano-sized remote sensing/educational satellite (ZIMSAT-1) with the support of Japan, which was launched by Japan as part of the BIRDS-5 initiative.
2024 - Constructed the second remote sensing satellite (ZIMSAT-2) with assistance from Russia and launched it by Russia.
