SomaliPress.com
Home › African Guides › Zimbabwe Overview ›

Zimbabwe Facts

  • Official name: Republic of Zimbabwe
  • Constitution: December 21, 1979
  • Independence: from the United Kingdom - Rhodesia November 11, 1965 - Zimbabwe April 18, 1980
  • Area: 390,757 sq km (150,872 sq mi)Population: 12,311,143 ((2007 est.) growth rate: 0.6%; birth rate: 27.7/1000; density per sq mi: 82
  • Capital: Harare (formerly Salisbury)
  • Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele.
  • Official language: English
  • Ethnic groups: Shona (71%), Ndebele (16%), other African, white, mixed and Asian.
  • Religions: Christianity (75%), offshoot Christian sects, animist, and Muslim.
  • Official religion: none
  • Form of government: multiparty republic
  • Head of state and government: President
  • Major towns: Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Marondera
  • Education: Attendance--mandatory for primary level. Adult literacy-90.5% (2004 est.)
  • Main political parties: Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF); Movement for Democratic Change (MDC); United People's Party (UPP)
  • Monetary unit: Zimbabwean dollar
  • Economy: GDP (2006 est.): U.S. $407.4 million (World Bank est.).
  • Real GDP growth rate: 5.1% (2006)
  • Avg. inflation rate: 7,634.8% (year-on-year, July 2007, by official accounts; private sector estimates are roughly triple the official figure)
  • Natural resources: Deposits of more than 40 minerals including ferrochrome, gold, silver, platinum, copper, asbestos; 19 million hectares of forest
  • Agriculture: Corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, tea, sugarcane, peanuts.
  • Industry: Manufacturing, public administration, commerce, mining, transport and communication
  • Exports: $1.766 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
  • Imports: $2.055 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels.
  • Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998). Radios: 1.14 million (1997)
  • Television broadcast stations: 16 (1997). Televisions: 370,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000). Internet users: 1 million (2005)
  • Ports and harbors: Binga, Kariba
  • Airports: 430 (2002)
  • International disputes: dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge
  • Climate: Mostly subtropical.
Last Updated on Friday 13th November 2009

Terms: