Zimbabwe profile

Demography and Health

Zimbabwe is home to about 16.6 million people in 2024, with a population that continues to grow, placing pressure on services and infrastructure. The birth rate is high at 30.4 births per 1,000 people (rank 31), while the death rate stands at 7.61 per 1,000 (rank 82), contributing to a youthful demographic profile but with limited prospects for rapid demographic dividend if health and education systems do not keep pace. Life expectancy at birth is 62.8 years (rank 199), signaling significant health and development challenges, including high under-5 mortality at 44.2 per 1,000 live births (rank 33). The large share of children and young people can be a demographic asset if accompanied by investment in health, nutrition, and education, but pervasive undernourishment—38.1% of the population (rank 6)—undermines human capital formation. Net migration is considerably negative in 2024, with about 60,528 people leaving (rank 197), which may erode the labor force and reduce domestic demand, while potentially alleviating some pressures on social services in the short run. Health spending remains modest: current health expenditure is 3.63% of GDP (rank 167) in 2022, and domestic general government health expenditure per capita at PPP is 31.2 international dollars (rank 164 in 2022), suggesting limited fiscal space to fund scaling of essential health services. The number of physicians is very low at 0.166 per 1,000 people (rank 42 in 2022), pointing to potential access barriers, especially for rural and underserved communities. Together, these health and demography indicators suggest that Zimbabwe faces substantial health and nutrition vulnerabilities, with a young population that could drive growth if supported by nutrition programs, healthcare capacity, and improved living standards. The prevalence of internet use—38.4% of the population (rank 122 in 2023)—also hints at a digital divide that may constrain health information dissemination and telemedicine opportunities.

Economy

Zimbabwe’s nominal GDP per capita stands at about $2,656 in 2024, with a PPP-based per-capita figure of roughly $3,922, signaling modest material living standards relative to global peers. Economic performance is tempered by extreme price volatility: inflation rose to a high level in 2022 (105.0%), reflecting macroeconomic instability and currency pressures that complicate planning for households and firms. The unemployment rate is reported at 9.35% in 2023, a figure that, in many contexts, understates the true burden of joblessness given informality and underemployment. The country has a current account balance of about 0.38% of GDP in 2023, suggesting a relatively balanced external position, though in practice external vulnerabilities persist. FDI net inflows amount to about 1.58% of GDP in 2023, indicating modest investor interest but limited scale for transformative investment. Exports of goods and services are 22.1% of GDP in 2024, while imports absorb 30.6% of GDP, implying a trade deficit in goods and services that funding must cover through savings or external financing. The economy also shows a significant reliance on renewables for energy—an efficiency and resilience asset in some scenarios—but high energy costs and supply reliability remain constraints. High-technology exports are relatively small, at about $10.6 million in 2023, reflecting limited advanced manufacturing capacity but potential in niche tech-enabled sectors. Overall, Zimbabwe’s economy wrestles with price stability, modest investment, and drainage of human capital through migration, while possessing notable opportunities to leverage renewable resources and a young labor force if governance, investment climate, and health indicators improve.

Trade and Investment

Trade openness in Zimbabwe is evident in exports of goods and services totaling 22.1% of GDP in 2024 and imports accounting for 30.6% of GDP, suggesting a larger import footprint and exposure to external price shifts and supply chain disruptions. The net inflow of foreign direct investment sits at 1.58% of GDP in 2023, indicating moderate external financing but room to deepen investment, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture, and capital goods. A positive current account balance of 0.38% of GDP in 2023 hints at a modest external position, yet the country remains vulnerable to global commodity cycles and exchange-rate dynamics that can affect competitiveness. Zimbabwe’s high renewable energy share in final energy consumption (82.4% of energy in 2021) supports energy security and reduced fossil fuel imports, potentially freeing some resources for export-oriented development. However, the relatively modest scale of high-tech exports (approximately $10.5 million in 2023) underscores the need for targeted investments in innovation, digital infrastructure, and skill development to diversify exports and attract higher-value manufacturing and services.

Governance and Institutions

Governance indicators portray meaningful challenges: political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score −0.934 in 2023 (rank 167), regulatory quality −1.34 (rank 182), and rule of law −1.28 (rank 180). Control of corruption is −1.26 (rank 177) and government effectiveness −1.17 (rank 175), all on a broad scale where negative values reflect weaker performance relative to global peers. These readings suggest persistent institutional weaknesses that can impede policy implementation, undermine investor confidence, and constrain public service delivery. While unemployment and social indicators reveal certain vulnerabilities, the governance gaps—especially in law, regulation, and anti-corruption efforts—likely exacerbate macroeconomic volatility and hinder inclusive growth. Addressing these governance gaps would be critical to raising investment, improving service delivery, and enabling more stable, long-run development trajectories. The limited internet penetration (38.4%) and relatively low overall digital access also constrain the reach of public services and e-governance initiatives, while the low physician density and health spending point to governance and budgetary pressures in health systems.

Infrastructure and Technology

Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and technology profile reveals both strengths and gaps. Internet usage stands at 38.4% of the population (rank 122), indicating substantial digital divides and room for expansion of connectivity, which is a prerequisite for modern services, education, and e-agriculture. The logistics performance index, a composite measure of trade and transport-related infrastructure quality, is 2.4 (rank 22 in 2022) on a 1-to-5 scale, suggesting mid-level logistics efficiency but still with notable room for improvement to reduce trade costs and enhance regional integration. Health infrastructure shows acute constraints: physicians per 1,000 people are 0.166 (rank 42 in 2022), and primary health expenditure per capita is relatively low, signaling access and quality issues in healthcare delivery. Yet Zimbabwe benefits from a very high share of renewable energy in final energy consumption (82.4% in 2021), which, if complemented by reliable generation and grid capacity, can offer resilience against fuel shocks and contribute to lower emissions. The country’s high-quality export composition in science- and technology-intensive sectors remains limited, but the low greenhouse gas emissions per capita (1.9 t CO2e) indicate a low-carbon footprint relative to many peers, albeit coupled with vulnerabilities in energy reliability and water resources. The relatively low mortality and suicide rates co-exist with high undernourishment and limited health access, underscoring the need for integrated infrastructure development that couples health, nutrition, and water management with transport and ICT expansion.

Environment and Sustainability

Zimbabwe faces meaningful environmental and sustainability challenges, alongside notable renewable energy potential. The level of water stress, defined as freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources, is 46.1% (rank 40), signaling meaningful vulnerability to drought and climate variability, which directly affects agriculture and livelihoods. The prevalence of undernourishment is alarmingly high at 38.1% (rank 6), underscoring food insecurity and the need for resilient agricultural systems and nutrition programs. The country’s greenhouse gas emissions, excluding LULUCF, stand at 1.9 t CO2e per capita (rank 152), indicating relatively low per-capita emissions, which aligns with lower industrial activity but also reflects opportunities to pursue sustainable growth without compromising climate objectives. Zimbabwe’s total renewable energy consumption share of total final energy consumption at a high 82.4% highlights an important asset for decarbonization and energy independence, though reliability and access remain critical in translating this asset into broad-based development gains. Overall, the environment and sustainability profile combines vulnerability in water and nutrition with strong renewable energy potential, suggesting a strategic path focused on climate-resilient agriculture, water management, and investments that couple energy sustainability with broad-based economic opportunities. A continued emphasis on nutrition, healthcare access, and climate adaptation will be essential to translating environmental assets into improved human development outcomes.