Sub Saharan Africa

Zimbabwe

Last updated: 19 June 2009

Country information

See entire profile

Map of Zimbabwe

Area: 390,757 sq. km (150,872 sq. mi)
Population: 13.5 million (UN 2008). Note: more than 3m Zimbabweans are now estimated to live outside the country
Capital City: Harare (population of Greater Harare: 1.1 million)
People: Shona, Ndebele, Others (10%)
Languages: English (official language), Shona and Ndebele
Religion(s): Christian (various); indigenous; small
Hindu/Muslim/Jewish communities
Currency: Zimbabwe dollar was suspended by the Zimbabwe government in April for at least a year following hyper-inflation. US dollars and South African rand most commonly used currencies.
Head of State: President Robert Mugabe (since 1987)
Prime Minister: Morgan Tsvangirai (since February 2009)
Foreign Minister: Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (since April 2005)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF - Zimbabwe's voting rights are currently suspended); World Bank, African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Non Aligned Movement (NAM). Zimbabwe decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth on 7 December 2003 following its suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth.