Country Profile: Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, located in Southern Africa, is a landlocked country bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia. The nation has a population of approximately 17.5 million and is predominantly inhabited by Shona and Ndebele speakers. Its economy is classified as low-income and is heavily reliant on agriculture, mining, and remittances, yet has faced challenges from political instability and chronic inflation. Governance is characterized by a presidential republic system, with recent leadership under President Emmerson Mnangagwa following years of rule by Robert Mugabe.

Geography

Zimbabwe is situated in Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia. It features a mostly high plateau with a tropical climate moderated by altitude. The country has significant natural resources including coal, gold, and platinum and is landlocked, meaning it has no coastline.

Area: 390,757 sq km
Land boundaries: 3,229 km
Highest point: Inyangani at 2,592 m
Natural hazards: Recurring droughts

People and Society

Zimbabwe has an estimated population of about 17.5 million people, with a diverse array of ethnic groups primarily composed of African (99.6%). The average life expectancy is around 67 years, with a youthful median age of 21.3 years. The country is linguistically rich, with Shona being the most widely spoken language.

Population growth rate: 1.82% (2025 est.)
Urban population: 32.5%
Literacy rate: 93.2% (2019 est.)
Dependency ratio: 72.3 (2025 est.)

Economy

Zimbabwe struggles with political instability and hyperinflation, affecting its economic growth. The GDP is primarily driven by the services sector, with agriculture and mining also contributing significantly. The government has made attempts to stabilize the economy with new currency initiatives.

GDP (PPP): $57.391 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 38.3% (2019 est.)

Government

Zimbabwe operates as a presidential republic with a bicameral legislature. The country has undergone significant political changes, especially since independence in 1980. Harare serves as the capital, and the legal system combines English common law with customary laws.

Executive: President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Legislature: Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
Suffrage: Universal, starting at age 18
Independence: 18 April 1980

Military and Security

The Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) consist of the Army and Air Force, focused on national sovereignty and security. The military has played a significant role in politics and regional security efforts, notably through international cooperation.

Active personnel: Approximately 30,000 (2025)
Military expenditures: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military service age: 18-22 (voluntary)

Energy

Energy access is limited, particularly in rural areas of Zimbabwe, with only about 33.7% having electricity. The primary sources of electricity generation are hydroelectric and fossil fuels, reflecting the country's efforts to manage energy consumption better.

Electrification rate: 50.1% (total population, 2022 est.)
Installed capacity: 2.491 million kW (2023 est.)
Total energy consumption per capita: 10.855 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Environment

Zimbabwe faces several environmental challenges including deforestation and land degradation. The country has ratified multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing climate change and biodiversity.

Forested land: 35.9% (2023 est.)
Water resources: 20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 12.578 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)

Transportation

Zimbabwe's transport systems include a network of railways and airports, facilitating both domestic and international travel. However, infrastructure development remains a challenge in the face of economic constraints.

Airports: 144 (2025)
Railways: 3,427 km (2014)
Heliports: 5 (2025)

Communications

The communication infrastructure in Zimbabwe has been developing, but disparities exist between urban and rural access. The mobile cellular subscription rate is high, significantly outpacing fixed-line subscriptions.

Mobile cellular subscriptions: 15.7 million (2024 est.)
Internet users: 38% of the population (2023 est.)
Fixed-line subscriptions: 310,000 (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	17,472,752 (2025 est.)
Total area	390,757 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$57.391 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate	8.6% (2024 est.)
Life expectancy	67.2 years (2024 est.)
Birth rate	28.18 births/1,000 (2025 est.)
Urban population	32.5% (2023)
Literacy rate	93.2% (2019 est.)
Military expenditures	0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Electricity access	50.1% (total population, 2022 est.)