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Zimbabwe |
Capital: Harare
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
Currency: Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)
Background: The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated to keep whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded 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. The economy is being steadily weakened by AIDS; Zimbabwe is one of those countries with the highest rate of infection in the world.
PEOPLE
Population: 12,311,143 (July 2007 est.); 11,651,858
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 39.5 years
Male: 40.62 years
Female: 38.35 years (2007 et.)
2010
Total population: 47.55 years
Male: 47.98 years
Female: 47.11 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 37.2% (male 2,308,731/female 2,266,027)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,663,108/female 3,641,519)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 198,867/female 232,891) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 43.9% (male 2,523,119/female 2,473,928)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 2,666,928/female 3,283,474)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 194,360/female 250,820) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.595% (2007 est.); 2.954% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 68% (2004)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 20.1% (2006 est.); 15.3% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 1,700,000 (2006 est.); 1.3 million (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 90.7%
Male: 94.2%
Female: 87.2% (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 6,536 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2006)
Refugees (country of origin): 2,500 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2007)
IDPs: 569,685 (Political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2006)
IDPs: 569,685 (MUGABE-led political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2007)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: 80% (2005 est.)
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs
Industries: mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
Exports - Commodities: cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
Exports - Partners:
Sudan 24.9%, Republic of the Congo 17.7%, Burkina Faso 15.8%, US 10.5% (2006)
Democratic Republic of the Congo 14.82%, South Africa 13.39%, Botswana 13.23%, China 7.82%, Zambia 7.3%, Netherlands 5.39%, UK 4.93% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels
Imports - Partners:
South Africa 40.8%, Zambia 29.6%, US 4.9% (2006)
South Africa 62.24%, China 4.2% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
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.
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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