Zimbabwe
Republic of Zimbabwe
presidential republicIndependence 18 April 1980 (from the UK)
Zimbabwe as the 2023 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 168 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The hunter-gatherer San people first inhabited the area that eventually became Zimbabwe. Farming communities migrated to the area around A.D. 500 during the Bantu expansion, and Shona-speaking societies began to develop in the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwean highlands around the 9th century. These societies traded with Arab merchants on the Indian Ocean coast and organized under the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century.
A series of powerful trade-oriented Shona states succeeded Mapungubwe, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (ca. 1220-1450), Kingdom of Mutapa (ca. 1450-1760), and the Rozwi Empire. The Rozwi Empire expelled Portuguese colonists from the Zimbabwean plateau but was eventually conquered in 1838 by the Ndebele clan of Zulu general MZILIKAZI during the era of conflict and population displacement known as the Mfecane. In the 1880s, colonists arrived with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) and obtained a written concession for mining rights from Ndebele King LOBENGULA. The king later disavowed the concession and accused the BSAC agents of deceit.
The BSAC annexed Mashonaland and subsequently conquered Matabeleland by force during the First Matabele War of 1893-1894 to establish company rule over the territory. BSAC holdings south of the Zambezi River were annexed by the UK in 1923 and became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The 1930 Land Apportionment Act restricted Black land ownership and established structural racial inequalities that would favor the White minority for decades. A new constitution in 1961 further cemented White minority rule.
In 1965, the government under White Prime Minister Ian SMITH unilaterally declared its independence from the UK. London did not recognize Rhodesia’s independence and demanded more voting rights for the Black majority in the country. International diplomacy and a liberation struggle by Black Zimbabweans led to biracial elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, who led the uprising and became the nation's first prime minister, was the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) from independence until November 2017, when loss of support from his political party and the country's military forced his resignation.
In the mid-1980s, the government tortured and killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on dissent known as the Gukurahundi campaign. Economic mismanagement and chaotic implementation of land redistribution policies following independence periodically crippled the economy and resulted in widespread shortages of basic commodities. General elections in 2002, 2008, and 2013 were severely flawed and widely condemned but allowed MUGABE to remain president.
In November 2017, Vice President Emmerson MNANGAGWA became president following a military intervention led by Constantino CHIWENGA that forced MUGABE to resign, and MNANGAGWA cemented power by sidelining rivals Grace MUGABE (Robert MUGABE’s wife) and her faction of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party. In July 2018, MNANGAGWA won the presidential election after a close contest with opposition candidate Nelson CHAMISA. MNANGAGWA has maintained the government's longstanding practice of violently disrupting protests and opposition rallies and politicizing institutions. Economic conditions remain dire under MNANGAGWA.
Geography
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
20 fieldsLand useshare of 390,757 sq km
Natural resources
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
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] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
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 as shown in this population distribution map
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 cu km; 43 cu mi)
People and Society
39 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2023 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2023 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2012 est.)
Religions(2015 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)
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 outmigration – 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.
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 as shown in this population distribution map
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.63 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.95 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 34 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
- male:
- 37.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 30.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- high (2023)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 3.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.05 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.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 5.4%
- women married by age 18:
- 33.7%
- men married by age 18:
- 1.9% (2019 est.)
Environment
15 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
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
Environment - international 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
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 32.5% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Food insecurity
- widespread lack of access:
- due to high food prices - based on a government assessment, an estimated 3.8 million people are expected to be in need of humanitarian assistance between January and March 2023;
- this number is higher than the level estimated in the first quarter of 2022;
- the downturn in food security conditions is largely on account of poor food access resulting from prevailing high food prices and reduced incomes owing to the effects of an economic downturn;
- a decline in cereal production in 2022 has also aggravated conditions (2023)
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 13.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 10.98 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 12.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 1,449,752 tons (2015 est.)
- municipal solid waste recycled annually:
- 231,960 tons (2005 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 16% (2005 est.)
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] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 650 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- industrial:
- 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- agricultural:
- 3.04 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023); President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Senate, 80 seats, elected for elected member on 23 August 2023one dot, one seat
Composition: men 44, women 36, percent of women 45%
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Zimbabwe
- conventional short form:
- Zimbabwe
- former:
- Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
- etymology:
- takes its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (13th-15th century) and its capital of Great Zimbabwe, the largest stone structure in pre-colonial southern Africa
Capital
- name:
- Harare
- geographic coordinates:
- 17 49 S, 31 02 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- named after a village of Harare at the site of the present capital;
- the village name derived from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, whose name meant "he who does not sleep"
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
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1965 (at Rhodesian independence), 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 National Assembly;
- passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament and assent of 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
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023);
- First Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 4 September 2023);
- note - Robert Gabriel MUGABE resigned on 21 November 2017, after ruling for 37 years
- head of government:
- President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023); Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 4 September 2023)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to National Assembly
- elections/appointments:
- each presidential candidate nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least 1 candidate from each province) 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 23 August 2023 (next to be held in 2028);
- co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership
- election results:
- ;
- 2023: Emmerson MNANGAGWA elected president in 1st round of voting;
- percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 52.6%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44%, Wilbert MUBAIWA (MDC) 1.20%, other 3%
- 2018: Emmerson MNANGAGWA elected president in 1st round of voting;
- percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 50.8%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44.3%, Thokozani KHUPE (MDC-N) 0.9%, other 3%
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral Parliament consists of:; Senate (80 seats; 60 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - 6 seats in each of the 10 provinces - by proportional representation vote, 16 indirectly elected by the regional governing councils, 18 reserved for the National Council Chiefs, and 2 reserved for members with disabilities; members serve 5-year terms); National Assembly (280 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 and 10 additional seats reserved for candidates aged between 21 and 35 directly elected by proportional representation, members serve 5-year terms)
- elections:
- Senate - last held for elected member on 23 August 2023 (next to be held in 2028);
- National Assembly - last held on 23 August 2023 (next to be held in 2028) note: a by election was held on 11 November 2023 due to the death of a candidate during the August general election;
- a special by election was held on 9 December 2023 after nine opposition lawmakers were removed from their seats and disqualified from running again;
- another by election is set for 3 February 2024
- election results:
- ;
- Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - ZANU-PF 33, CCC- 27, Chiefs 18, people with disabilities 2;
- composition - men 44, women 36, percent of women 45%
- National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - ZANU-PF 177, CCC-93;
- composition - men 194, women 86, percent of women 30.8%;
- note - total Parliament percent of women 34.3%
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges); 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
- Citizens Coalition for Change [Nelson CHAMISA]
- Movement for Democratic Change - MDC-T [Douglas MWONZORA]
- National People's Congress- NPC- [Wilbert MUBAIWA]
- Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA]
- Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Michael NKOMO]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Tadeous Tafirenyika CHIFAMBA (since 7 July 2021)
- chancery:
- 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 332-7100
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 483-9326
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://zimembassydc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Elaine M. FRENCH (since August 2022)
- embassy:
- 2 Lorraine Drive, Bluffhill, Harare
- mailing address:
- 2180 Harare Place, Washington DC 20521-2180
- telephone:
- [263] 867-701-1000
- FAX:
- [263] 24-233-4320
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://zw.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
- seven equal horizontal bands of green (top), 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)
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] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)
- lyrics/music:
- Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
note: adopted 1994
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)
Economy
Low income Sub-Saharan economy; political instability, protest crackdowns, and COVID-19 have damaged economic potential; reliant on natural resource extraction and agriculture; endemic corruption; ongoing hyperinflation
32 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2018 est.)
Economic overview
- low income Sub-Saharan economy;
- political instability, protest crackdowns, and COVID-19 have damaged economic potential;
- reliant on natural resource extraction and agriculture;
- endemic corruption;
- ongoing hyperinflation
Agricultural products
sugar cane, maize, milk, tobacco, cassava, vegetables, bananas, beef, cotton, oranges
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
Unemployment rate
5.17% (2021 est.) · 5.35% (2020 est.) · 4.83% (2019 est.) note: data include both unemployment and underemployment; true unemployment is unknown and, under current economic conditions, unknowable
Current account balance
$1.096 billion (2020 est.) · $920.472 million (2019 est.) · -$1.38 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, delivery trucks, packaged medicines, fertilizers, tractors (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$838.78 million (31 December 2021 est.) · $33.405 million (31 December 2020 est.) · $151.241 million (31 December 2019 est.)
Exchange rates
Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar - 88.552 (2021 est.) · 51.329 (2020 est.) · 16.446 (2019 est.) · 322.355 (2018 est.) note: the dollar was adopted as a legal currency in 2009; since then the Zimbabwean dollar has experienced hyperinflation and is essentially worthless
Energy
11 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2021)
Installed generating capacity, 2.473 million kW(2020 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 3.888 million metric tons (2020 est.)
- consumption:
- 3.579 million metric tons (2020 est.)
- exports:
- 327,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
- imports:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 502 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
- total petroleum production:
- 800 bbl/day (2021 est.)
- refined petroleum consumption:
- 27,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
- crude oil and lease condensate exports:
- 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
- crude oil and lease condensate imports:
- 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
- crude oil estimated reserves:
- 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- consumption:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- exports:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- imports:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
7.902 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 3.963 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 3.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- Zimbabwe’s telcos continue to be affected by the country’s poor economy;
- this has been exacerbated by the significant economic difficulties related to the pandemic;
- revenue has also been under pressure from a number of recent regulatory measures and additional taxes imposed by the cash-strapped government;
- inflation has become so high that year-on-year revenue comparisons since 2019 have been difficult to assess meaningfully;
- the three MNOs continue to invest in network upgrades, partly supported by government efforts and cash released from the Universal Service Fund;
- as a result of these investments, LTE networks have expanded steadily, though services remain concentrated in urban areas;
- international bandwidth has improved since fiber links to several submarine cables were established via neighboring countries;
- the expansion of 3G and LTE-based mobile broadband services has meant that most of the population has access to the internet;
- the government has started a national broadband scheme aimed at delivering a 1Mb/s service nationally by 2030;
- investment in fixed broadband infrastructure has also resulted in a slow but steady growth in the number of DSL connections, and also fiber subscriptions;
- during 2021, most growth in the fixed broadband segment has been with fiber connections (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line teledensity is 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 89 per 100 (2021)
- international:
- country code - 263;
- fiber-optic connections to neighboring states provide access to international networks via undersea cable;
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat;
- 5 international digital gateway exchanges
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)
Transportation
10 fieldsNetworkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 2 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 285,539 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 670,000 (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
17
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature;
paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
179
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length;
airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Military and Security
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) | Ministry of Home Affairs: Zimbabwe Republic Police (2023)
6 fieldsMilitary and security forces
- Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF):
- Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ)
- Ministry of Home Affairs:
- Zimbabwe Republic Police (2023)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 30,000 active-duty troops, including about 4,000 Air Force personnel (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the ZDF inventory is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older Chinese equipment;
- since the early 2000s, Zimbabwe has been under an arms embargo from the EU, as well as targeted sanctions from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18-24 for officer cadets; 18-30 for technical/specialist personnel); no conscription (2023)
Military - note
ZDF’s primary responsibilities are protecting the country’s sovereignty and territory and securing its borders; it also has a considerable role in domestic security and has continued to be active in the country’s politics since the 2017 military-assisted political transition;
the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and has provided troops to the SADC deployment to Mozambique; Zimbabwe has defense ties with China and Russia; the Army has approximately 5 light infantry brigades, plus brigades of mechanized infantry, presidential guards, special operations, and artillery; the Air Force has a few dozen operational Chinese- and Russian-made combat aircraft and helicopters
the ZDF was formed after independence from the former Rhodesian Army and the two guerrilla forces that opposed it during the Rhodesian Civil War (aka "Bush War") of the 1970s, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA);
the ZDF intervened in 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 (2023)
Space
2 fieldsSpace agency/agencies
Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA; established in 2019 and officially launched in 2021; under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development) (2023)
Space program overview
- has a nascent program with the goal of utilizing space technologies in economic development;
- particularly interested in remote sensing capabilities to assist with monitoring or managing agriculture and food security, climate change, disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and disasters, and natural resources, as well as weather forecasting;
- part of a joint project (BIRDS-5) with Japan, which seeks to promote the first steps towards creating an indigenous space program by designing, building, testing, launching, and operating the first satellites for participating countries (2023)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- Zimbabwe-Mozambique:
- none identified
- Zimbabwe-South Africa:
- 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
- Zimbabwe-Zambia:
- 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;
- in May 2021, Botswana and Zambia agreed in principle to let Zimbabwe be a partner in the bridge project as it enters its lasts phase
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 12,014 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 9,931 (Mozambique) (2023)
Illicit drugs
transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, methaqualone, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Zimbabwe.” The World Factbook 2023. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zimbabwe/2023.