Zimbabwe
Africa Β· Capital: Harare
How it is run: Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Zimbabwe is home to 17.0 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak Chibarwe, English, Kalanga.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
17.0 million people
That is 0.2% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
390,757 kmΒ²
Bigger than Texas β a long road trip from one side to the other.
ποΈ How crowded
About 43 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
26th most people in Africa
26th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Chewa, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Botswana pula (P), Chinese yuan (Β₯), Euro (β¬), British pound (Β£), Indian rupee (βΉ), Japanese yen (Β₯), United States dollar ($), South African rand (Rs), Zimbabwean bonds ($)
More than one currency is used here.
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
63.1 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$3,021
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
40.5% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
40.3% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+263
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.zw
π§ People here are called
Zimbabwean
π·οΈ Name at home
Zimbabwe
Also written: Republic of Zimbabwe.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Zimbabwe is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Zimbabue
French
Zimbabwe
Arabic
Ψ²ΩΩ Ψ¨Ψ§Ψ¨ΩΩ
Chinese
ζ΄₯ε·΄εΈι¦
Japanese
γΈγ³γγγ¨
Russian
ΠΠΈΠΌΠ±Π°Π±Π²Π΅
Portuguese
Zimbabwe
German
Simbabwe
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 14.0Γ as many people as Zimbabwe.
- Zimbabwe covers roughly 3,721 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Zimbabwe lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 8,475 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Zimbabwe
ποΈ Capital
Harare
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
ZW
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Zimbabwe π
π§ Where on the map
20.0Β° S, 30.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Harare.
- Zimbabwe is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- πΏπΌ is the flag of Zimbabwe. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is ZW.
- The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Zimbabwe shares its part of the world with Mozambique. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Zimbabwe is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Zimbabwe has 15 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Zimbabwe?
- If Zimbabwe spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Zimbabwe?
Harare
Which money do people spend in Zimbabwe?
Botswana pula (P), Chinese yuan (Β₯), Euro (β¬), British pound (Β£), Indian rupee (βΉ), Japanese yen (Β₯), United States dollar ($), South African rand (Rs), Zimbabwean bonds ($)
How many countries share a land border with Zimbabwe?
4 β Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia.
Roughly how many people live in Zimbabwe?
17.0 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.