The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Africa

Country name Zimbabwe, in 35 editions.

The entry for Zimbabwe published Country name in 35 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 12 editions. Each is shown as published. Country name in every entry.

editions changed the text
12
the first edition with it
1990
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Long-form name” (1990 to 1992), “Names” (1993 to 1995), “Name of country” (1996) and “Country name” (1997 to 2025).

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.

2025

Changed since 2024
Mark changes

Open the 2025 entry

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, which was built of stone;
  • the name Zimbabwe comes from the Bantu phrase zimba we bahwe , meaning "houses of stones;" the former name, Rhodesia, was derived from the name of British colonial administrator Cecil RHODES

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, which was built of stone; the largest stone structure in pre-colonial southern Africa name Zimbabwe comes from the Bantu phrase zimba we bahwe , meaning "houses of stones;" the former name, Rhodesia, was derived from the name of British colonial administrator Cecil RHODES

Central Intelligence Agency. “Zimbabwe: Country name.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zimbabwe/country-name.

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