Discover Fascinating Zimbabwe Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Background

🏰 The History of Zimbabwe 🏰

Did you know that the Kingdom of Zimbabwe used to be the largest trading state in its area? This was way back before the mid-15th century! πŸ“œ Then, things changed when the UK came along and colonized the land in the late 1800s. This led to the establishment of Southern Rhodesia in 1923.

Big changes happened again when there were UN sanctions and an uprising, which pushed for free elections in 1979. πŸ—³οΈ Because of those elections, Zimbabwe became an independent nation in 1980! πŸŽ‰ It’s amazing to see how a place can change through history, isn’t it?

Exports - commodities

Zimbabwe exports a variety of valuable commodities! 🌍✨

Here are some of the key items that make up Zimbabwe's export treasure:

  • Gold - A shiny and precious metal! πŸͺ™
  • Nickel - A strong metal used in making steel! βš’οΈ
  • Tobacco - A popular plant that many people enjoy! 🌱
  • Iron alloys - A mix of metals used in building and manufacturing! πŸ—οΈ
  • Diamonds - Sparkly gems that everyone loves! πŸ’Ž

These commodities represent a big part of Zimbabwe's economy and help the country trade with others around the world! 🌍🀝

Key commodities exported by Zimbabwe

Gold, Nickel, Tobacco, Iron alloys, Diamonds

Exports - partners

🌍 Let's take a look at Zimbabwe's top export partners in 2022! Exports are super important for the economy and help the country trade goods with others. Here are some fun facts and figures about where Zimbabwe sends its exports:

  • UAE: 57% πŸ‡΄πŸ‡¦
  • South Africa: 17% πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦
  • China: 7% πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³
  • Belgium: 4% πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ
  • Mozambique: 2% πŸ‡²πŸ‡Ώ

It's really interesting to see that the UAE is by far the largest partner, taking more than half of Zimbabwe's exports! πŸ’°πŸŽ‰

Total Export Percentage

100%

Exports Partners for Zimbabwe (2022)

Capital

🌍 The bustling capital city of Zimbabwe is Harare! It's the heartbeat of the country, filled with lively markets, beautiful parks, and a vibrant culture. Harare serves as the center of political and economic activities, making it an essential part of Zimbabwe's identity. πŸ™οΈβœ¨

Imports - commodities

Zimbabwe imports a variety of essential commodities to keep its economy running smoothly! πŸ›’οΈπŸšš From refined petroleum to fertilizers, each import plays a critical role. Let's take a look at some of the key commodities that Zimbabwe imported in 2022:

  • Refined petroleum
  • Fertilizers
  • Trucks
  • Soybean oil
  • Electricity

These imports are vital not only for agricultural productivity but also for transportation and energy needs across the country! πŸšœπŸ’‘

Climate

Zimbabwe boasts a tropical climate that's just delightful! 🌞 The weather is moderated by altitude, which means it can change based on how high you are in the mountains. The country enjoys a rainy season from November to March, bringing a refreshing change and nourishing the beautiful landscapes. 🌧️🌿

Climate Type

Tropical

Rainy Season

November to March

Executive branch

In Zimbabwe, the Executive branch is led by some key figures who are taking the country forward! 🌍✨

The Chief of State is President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. He took office on 4 September 2023 – that's super recent! πŸ—“οΈ As the president, he's responsible for the leadership of the nation and plays a vital role in decisions that affect all citizens.

Working alongside him is the head of government, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who has been in power since 11 September 2023. πŸ™Œ Together, they represent the top leadership in Zimbabwe, working to ensure the government runs smoothly and that the people's needs are met.

Isn't it interesting to see how leadership changes can affect a country? Let's keep an eye on what these leaders will accomplish! πŸ‘€

Current President of Zimbabwe

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa since 4 September 2023

Current Vice President of Zimbabwe

Constantino Chiwenga since 11 September 2023

Legislative branch

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡Ό Zimbabwe has a bicameral Parliament! This means it has two separate chambers: the Senate and the National Assembly. πŸ›οΈ Let's look at their structures:

  • Senate: 80 seats
  • National Assembly: 280 seats

Together, these two houses work to make laws and govern the country. Isn't it fascinating how these numbers add up to help represent the voices of the people? πŸ€”

Total Seats in Parliament

360

Number of Seats in Zimbabwe's Parliament

Natural resources

🌍 Zimbabwe is rich in natural resources! 🌟 Here’s a fascinating list of what this amazing country has to offer:

  • Coal: A crucial energy source for generating electricity! ⚑
  • Chromium Ore: Essential for making stainless steel! πŸ’
  • Asbestos: Once commonly used for insulation and fireproofing! πŸ”₯
  • Gold: A highly sought-after precious metal! πŸ†
  • Nickel: Great for making strong metals!
  • Copper: Important for electrical wiring! πŸ”Œ
  • Iron Ore: Key ingredient for making steel! βš’οΈ
  • Vanadium: Used to improve steel strength! πŸ’ͺ
  • Lithium: Vital for rechargeable batteries! πŸ”‹
  • Tin: Used for plating and solder! 🎨
  • Platinum Group Metals: Valuable for jewelry and catalytic converters! πŸ’Ž

These resources provide opportunities for industry and trade, making Zimbabwe an important player in the global market! 🌎✨

Economic overview

Zimbabwe is facing tough economic challenges! 🌍 It's categorized as a low income Sub-Saharan economy, struggling due to political instability and widespread corruption. These issues have stopped important reforms that could help stabilize the economy and deal with its massive debts. To fight against ongoing hyperinflation, Zimbabwe introduced a new currency called the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency. πŸ’°

The economy heavily relies on natural resources, agriculture, and financial support from remittances. All these factors combined paint a picture of an economy that’s working hard to recover! πŸŒ±πŸ’Ό

Economy Status

Low Income

Main Economic Reliance

Natural resource extraction, agriculture, and remittances

Issues Affecting Reforms

Political instability and endemic corruption

New Currency

Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

Government type

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡Ό Zimbabwe is a presidential republic! This means that the president is both the head of state and the head of government. It's a system that combines the executive and legislative branches of government. In presidential republics, the president is usually elected by the citizens. πŸ“Š Learn more about how this impacts the country!

Ethnic groups

In Zimbabwe, the ethnic landscape is incredibly fascinating! 🌍 A whopping 99.6% of the population identifies as African. The largest group within this is the Shona, while the Ndebele comes in as the second largest ethnic group. On the other hand, just 0.4% of the people belong to other groups, which include Caucasian, Asiatic, and mixed-race individuals. πŸ‘«

This shows that the country has a strong cultural identity rooted in its predominantly African communities.

Percentage of African population

99.6%

Percentage of Other ethnic groups

0.4%

Ethnic Composition of Zimbabwe

Religions

In Zimbabwe, the religion scene is quite colorful and diverse! 🌍 Here's a breakdown of the major religions practiced in the country:

  • Apostolic Sect: 40.3%
  • Pentecostal: 17%
  • Protestant: 13.8%
  • Other Christian: 7.8%
  • Roman Catholic: 6.4%
  • African traditionalist: 5%
  • Other: 1.5%
  • None: 8.3%

As you can see, the Apostolic Sect is the largest group, almost half of the population! πŸš€ The diversity of beliefs shows the rich cultural tapestry of Zimbabwe. Let's visualize these statistics! πŸ“Š

Percentage of Apostolic Sect followers

40.3%

Percentage of Pentecostal followers

17%

Percentage of Protestant followers

13.8%

Percentage of Other Christians

7.8%

Percentage of Roman Catholics

6.4%

Percentage of African traditionalists

5%

Percentage of people with no religion

8.3%

Religious Distribution in Zimbabwe (2022)

Languages

In Zimbabwe, a colorful tapestry of languages is woven together! 🌍✨ Let's explore the exciting world of words and speech in this vibrant country.

Most Spoken Languages πŸ“Š

  1. Shona: πŸ“’ 80.9% (the official and most widely spoken language)
  2. Ndebele: πŸ“’ 11.5% (the second most widely spoken language)
  3. English: πŸ“’ 0.3% (used traditionally for official business)
  4. Minority Languages: πŸ“’ 7% (includes languages like Chewa, Kalanga, Tonga, Venda, and more!)
  5. Others: πŸ“’ 0.3%

With Shona dominating, it's clear that the rich culture of Zimbabwe comes alive through its languages! πŸ—£οΈπŸŽ‰

Percentage of Shona speakers

80.9%

Percentage of Ndebele speakers

11.5%

Percentage of English speakers

0.3%

Percentage of speakers of minority languages

7%

Percentage of other language speakers

0.3%

Language Distribution in Zimbabwe

Imports - partners

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡Ό Zimbabwe heavily relies on several countries for its imports! Here's a snapshot of the main partners that contribute to Zimbabwe's import economy in 2022:

  • South Africa: 39% 🦁
  • China: 15% πŸ‰
  • Singapore: 12% πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬
  • UAE: 6% πŸ‡΄πŸ‡²
  • Mozambique: 4% πŸ‡²πŸ‡Ώ

As you can see, South Africa is the top player by a significant margin! These countries are crucial for keeping Zimbabwe's markets stocked with goods and services. Let's visualize this share of imports! πŸ“Š

Top Import Partner

South Africa at 39%

Second Largest Import Partner

China at 15%

Third Largest Import Partner

Singapore at 12%

Percentage of Imports from UAE

6%

Percentage of Imports from Mozambique

4%

Zimbabwe's Import Partners Distribution (2022)

Population

🌍 Let's talk about Zimbabwe's Population! As of now, Zimbabwe has a total population of 17,150,352 people. That's a lot of faces and stories in one country! Imagine all the vibrant cultures and talents that make up this amazing nation! πŸ˜„

Total Population

17,150,352

Area

🌍 Did you know that Zimbabwe has a total area of 390,757 sq km? Let's break it down! 🏞️ Out of this, there's 386,847 sq km of land, perfect for farming, wildlife, and adventure! 🌳 And don't forget about the 3,910 sq km of water, which includes rivers and lakes where you might catch a glimpse of some amazing wildlife! πŸŠπŸ’§

Total Area

390757 sq km

Land Area

386847 sq km

Water Area

3910 sq km

Area Distribution in Zimbabwe

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

🌍 Let's take a closer look at Zimbabwe's Real GDP, which shows how well the country's economy is doing when adjusted for what people can buy. Here are the figures for the past three years:

  • 2021: $52.399 billion πŸ’°
  • 2022: $55.817 billion πŸ’΅
  • 2023: $58.583 billion πŸ’Έ

You can see that Zimbabwe's economy is growing! From 2021 to 2023, the GDP increased quite a bit. πŸ“ˆ Let's visualize these changes!

Check out this bar chart to see how Zimbabwe's GDP has changed over these years!

Zimbabwe Real GDP Over Time

Real GDP per capita

🌍 Let's take a look at Zimbabwe's Real GDP per capita over the last few years! This statistic is important because it tells us how much money, on average, each person in Zimbabwe has to spend. Here's what we found:

  • In 2023, the Real GDP per capita is estimated to be $3,500.
  • In 2022, it was $3,400.
  • Back in 2021, it was $3,300.

We can see that the Real GDP per capita has been slowly increasing year by year! πŸ“ˆ Isn't that interesting?

Real GDP per capita in 2023

$3,500

Real GDP per capita in 2022

$3,400

Real GDP per capita in 2021

$3,300

Real GDP per Capita in Zimbabwe (2021-2023)

Imports

πŸ›³οΈ Zimbabwe's imports have been an essential part of its economy! Let's take a look at how much the country has imported over the years. Here are the estimates for the last three years:

  • 2020: $5.489 billion
  • 2021: $7.964 billion
  • 2022: $10.126 billion

πŸš€ As you can see, there's been a steady increase in the imports each year. Keep reading to see this data visualized!

Total Imports in 2022

$10.126 billion

Total Imports Growth from 2020 to 2022

$4.637 billion

Zimbabwe Imports Over Time

Exports

πŸ“Š Zimbabwe's Exports Over the Years πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡Ό

Zimbabwe has been working hard to boost its economy, and exports are a big part of that effort! 🌍 Let's take a look at how much Zimbabwe exported over the past three years:

  • 2020: $5.263 billion
  • 2021: $6.462 billion
  • 2022: $7.65 billion

From 2020 to 2022, we can see that exports have been growing steadily. πŸŽ‰ More exports mean more money for the country's development, and that's great news! πŸ“ˆ

This increase shows that Zimbabwe is getting better at trading and selling its goods to the world! 🌟

Export in 2020

5.263 billion

Export in 2021

6.462 billion

Export in 2022

7.65 billion

Zimbabwe's Exports Over Time

Population growth rate

🌍 Did you know that Zimbabwe has a population growth rate of 1.91% in 2024? This means that the number of people living in Zimbabwe is steadily increasing! πŸ“ˆ Keep an eye on this percentage, as it plays a big role in the country's future development and economy. 😊

Population Growth Rate for Zimbabwe (2024)

1.91%