Country explorer: Zimbabwe
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Zimbabwe is a landlocked, lower-middle-income country in Africa with a medium-sized population. Its economy has declined in recent decades, and is based on mining, agriculture and tourism.
Zimbabwe boasts the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world.
Economy
Zimbabwe's economy has witnessed erratic fluctuations over the past two decades, marked by periods of hyperinflation, significant GDP per capita decline, widespread poverty, and moderate unemployment rates, setting it apart from its regional counterparts by demonstrating extreme economic volatility and challenges.
Demographics
Zimbabwe has experienced significant demographic changes, characterized by a recovery in life expectancy from a low point during the HIV/AIDS crisis, fluctuating net migration reflecting both economic and political challenges, and a gradual decline in fertility rates, mirroring broader trends seen in lower-middle-income countries yet distinctive in its sharper life expectancy recovery.
Basic needs
Zimbabwe has seen a gradual improvement in access to electricity and clean cooking fuel but has struggled with declines in the accessibility of safely managed drinking water and sanitation, a mixed trajectory that mirrors the complex challenges facing many Sub-Saharan African nations in balancing infrastructure development with sustainable resource management.
Human development
Zimbabwe has demonstrated notable improvements in key human development indicators, such as rising literacy rates and decreasing child mortality, despite its challenges, distinguishing it by its resilience and potential for progress within the context of lower-middle-income countries.
Environment & energy
Zimbabwe has seen a reduction in per capita CO₂ emissions and renewable internal freshwater resources, alongside a decline in forest area, reflecting widespread environmental challenges that are shared with its peers, yet demonstrating modest attempts to increase electricity production from renewable sources.
Technology & innovation
Zimbabwe has seen considerable growth in its internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, reflecting a digital evolution common among its peers, yet its scientific output per capita remains visibly lower, highlighting challenges in leveraging technology and innovation for research development.
Culture & society
Zimbabwe has witnessed a noticeable decrease in life satisfaction and an increase in gender inequality, diverging from trends in life satisfaction seen in some of its regional peers, while maintaining a relatively stable share of the population born in another country and experiencing shifts in its age dependency ratio that reflect broader demographic changes.
Governance
Zimbabwe has experienced a significant decline in governance indicators, including rule of law, political civil liberties, corruption perception, and press freedom, indicating a challenging environment for democracy and transparency that sets it apart from many of its regional peers.