Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

890,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

301,000 (1990 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

8 (1986 est.)

Televisions [time series]

280,000 (1992 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures : $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $29 million (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$4.4 billion (1994)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $362 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Agriculture employs 70% of the labor force of this landlocked nation and supplies almost 40% of exports. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Severe drought caused GDP to drop 8% in 1992, with growth rebounding to 2% in 1993 and 4.5% in 1994, only to drop by 2.4% in 1995. The government is continuing to push its IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program aimed at encouraging exports and foreign investment. Officials face the difficult task of restraining expenditures in their effort to keep inflation within bounds.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

2.15 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

747 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.33 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 10.8696 (January 1997), 9.9206 (1996), 8.6580 (1995), 8.1500 (1994), 6.4725 (1993), 5.0942 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: agricultural 47% (tobacco 31%), manufactures 27%, gold 12%, textiles 8%, ferrochrome 6% (1994 est.) partners: South Africa 14%, UK 10%, Germany 8%, Japan 8%, (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $26.4 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 18.3% industry: 35.3% services: 46.4% (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2,340 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.5% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 41%, other manufactures 16%, chemicals 16%, fuels 10% (1994 est.) partners: South Africa 41%, UK 7%, US 6%, Japan 6% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10% (1994)

Industries [time series]

mining (coal, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), copper, steel, nickel, tin, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

21.7% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 4.228 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 70%, transport and services 22%, industry 8%

Unemployment rate [time series]

at least 45% (1994 est.)

Area [time series]

total : 390,580 sq km land: 386,670 sq km water: 3,910 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Montana

Climate [time series]

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: junction of the Lundi and Savi rivers 162 m highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

1,930 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,066 km border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 23% other: 57% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Natural resources [time series]

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Terrain [time series]

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Administrative divisions [time series]

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria), Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Constitution [time series]

21 December 1979

Country name [time series]

conventional long form : Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia

Data code [time series]

ZI

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone : [263] (4) 794521

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly elections: president nominated by the House of Assembly for a six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE elected president; percent of electoral college vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA 4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 483-9326

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[263] (4) 796488

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

18 April 1980 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral parliament, called House of Assembly (150 seats, 120 of which are directly elected by popular vote for six-year terms; of the other 30 seats, 12 are nominated by the president, 10 are occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 by provincial governors) elections: last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-Ndonga 2, independent 1

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Harare

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert MUGABE]; Zimbabwe African National Union-NDONGA or ZANU-NDONGA [Ndabaningi SITHOLE]; Zimbabwe Unity Movement or ZUM [Edgar TEKERE]; Democratic Party or DP [Emmanuel MAGOCHE]; Forum Party of Zimbabwe [Enock DUMBUTSHENA]; United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$236 million (FY95/96)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

3.4% (FY95/96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,717,032 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 1,687,536 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 2,507,219; female 2,471,357) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,020,632; female 3,106,729) 65 years and over : 3% (male 154,231; female 163,007) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

31.65 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

19.02 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

72.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.84 years male: 40.85 years female : 40.83 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write in English total population: 85% male: 90% female: 80% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun : Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean

Net migration rate [time series]

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa in search of better paid employment

Population [time series]

11,423,175 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.26% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.94 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement

Illicit drugs [time series]

significant transit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the South African and European markets TAIWAN

Airports [time series]

402 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 203 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m : 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 184 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 199 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 198 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 91,099 km paved: 15,486 km unpaved : 75,613 km (1993 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 212 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Binga, Kariba

Railways [time series]

total : 2,759 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km double track) (1995 est.)

Waterways [time series]

the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers are used for transporting chrome ore from Harare to Mozambique