Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [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 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. In April 2005, the capital city of Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted 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, in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in June 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 390,757 sq km
country comparison to the world: 61
land: 386,847 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 10.49%
permanent crops: 0.31%
other: 89.2% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,735 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
per capita: 333.5 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13,182,908 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 39.4% (male 2,623,606/female 2,570,028)
15-24 years: 22.5% (male 1,472,186/female 1,493,816)
25-54 years: 30.8% (male 2,039,943/female 2,018,589)
55-64 years: 3.7% (male 176,951/female 311,113)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,147/female 283,529) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 76.4 %
youth dependency ratio: 69.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 %
potential support ratio: 14.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19.5 years
male: 19 years
female: 20 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.38% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
32.41 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.4 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 3
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2013 est.)
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 38.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
HARARE (capital) 1.606 million (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.57 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20.5
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
570 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 15
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 27.25 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 71
male: 29.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 53.86 years
country comparison to the world: 209
male: 53.79 years
female: 53.93 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.58 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58.5% (2010/11)
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.2 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
83,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.1% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 68
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 158
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 83.6%
male: 87.8%
female: 80.1% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2003)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 7.6%
country comparison to the world: 125
male: 7.6%
female: 7.6% (2004)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Harare
geographic coordinates: 17 49 S, 31 02 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 April 1980 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
previous 1979; latest approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joice MUJURU (since 6 December 2004) and Vice President John Landa NKOMO (since December 2009)
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) note - according to the new constitution, following the 31 July 2013 presidential elections the position of Prime Minister was abolished
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); elections 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 34.4%, Welshman NCUBE 2.7% other 1.8%; note - the election process was considered flawed and roundly criticised by election monitors and international bodies
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats - 60 members elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial governors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs elected by the Council of Chiefs, 2 seats held by the president and deputy president of the Council of Chiefs, and 5 members appointed by the president) and a House of Assembly (210 seats - members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 37 MDC 23; House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 160, MDC 49, other 1
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the chief justice, Public Service Commission chairman, attorney general, and 2-3 members appointed by the president; judges normally serve until age 65, but can elect to serve until age 70
subordinate courts: High Court, regional magistrate courts, and special courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Machivenyika MAPURANGA (since 30 November 2005)
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador David Bruce WHARTON (since 15 November 2012)
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 through 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zimbabwe bird symbol; African fish eagle
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)
lyrics/music: Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
note: adopted 1994
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zimbabwe's economy is growing despite continuing political uncertainty. Following a decade of contraction from 1998 to 2008, Zimbabwe's economy recorded real growth of more than 9% per year in 2010-11, before slowing to 5% in 2012, due in part to a poor harvest and low diamond revenues. However, the government of Zimbabwe still faces a number of difficult economic problems, including infrastructure and regulatory deficiencies, ongoing indigenization pressure, policy uncertainty, a large external debt burden, and insufficient formal employment. Zimbabwe''s 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. The government''s subsequent land reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, badly damaged the commercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs, turning Zimbabwe into a net importer of food products. Until early 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe routinely printed money to fund the budget deficit, causing hyperinflation. Dollarization in early 2009 - which allowed currencies such as the Botswana pula, the South Africa rand, and the US dollar to be used locally - ended hyperinflation and reduced inflation to about 10%, but exposed structural weaknesses that continue to inhibit broad-based growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.167 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.669 billion
note: in 2009, the Zimbabwean dollar was taken out of circulation, making Zimbabwe's GDP at the official exchange rate a highly inaccurate statistic (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 68%
government consumption: 29.4%
investment in fixed capital: 21.9%
exports of goods and services: 67.9%
imports of goods and services: -87.1%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 20.3%
industry: 25.1%
services: 54.6% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.931 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 66%
industry: 10%
services: 24% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
95% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
note: figures reflect underemployment; true unemployment is unknown and, under current economic conditions, unknowable
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
68% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
50.1 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 23
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $985 million
expenditures: $1.095 billion
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA% of GDP
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA% of GDP
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
244.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.17% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$12.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
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
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$11 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.844 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$10.9 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 70
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-416.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.314 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 21.1%, South Africa 15.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.1%, Botswana 10.8%, Italy 4.6% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.569 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa 51.9%, China 10% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$575.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.765 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -
note: the dollar was adopted as a legal currency in 2009; since then the Zimbabwean dollar has experienced hyperinflation and is essentially worthless
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.808 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.57 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
56 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.338 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.035 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
66.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
33.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
120 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 208
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19,030 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 210
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.875 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
301,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 117
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.614 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 69
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones
international: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru) (2010)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
government owns all local radio and TV stations; foreign shortwave broadcasts and satellite TV are available to those who can afford antennas and receivers; in rural areas, access to TV broadcasts is extremely limited (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.zw
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30,615 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 108
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.423 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
196 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 29
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 179
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 104
under 914 m:
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refined products 270 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3,427 km
country comparison to the world: 51
narrow gauge: 3,427 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 97,267 km
country comparison to the world: 47
paved: 18,481 km
unpaved: 78,786 km (2002)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
(some navigation possible on Lake Kariba) (2011)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
river port(s): Binga, Kariba (Zambezi)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 2,616,051
females age 16-49: 2,868,376 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,528,166
females age 16-49: 1,646,041 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 154,870
female: 152,550 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.94% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 69
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
IDPs: undetermined (political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2012)
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
current situation: Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Zimbabwean women and girls from towns bordering South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia are subjected to prostitution, sometimes being sold by their parents; Zimbabwean men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in agriculture and domestic service in rural areas, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking in cities and towns; Zimbabwean women and men are lured into exploitative labor situations in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Nigeria, and South Africa with false job offers, while women and girls are lured to China, Egypt, the UK, and Canada and forced into prostitution; adults and children from Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia are trafficked through Zimbabwe en route to South Africa
tier rating: Tier 3 - Zimbabwe does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; tangible efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses, including those allegedly involving government officials, and to protect victims remain minimal; the government continues to rely on an international organization to provide law enforcement training and on NGOs to identify and assist victims without government support for such work; a national trafficking awareness campaign was launched in November 2012 (2013)