GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of lush, rocky hills in Zimbabwe under a cloudy sky, showcasing natural beauty.Victoria Falls Bridge gracefully arcs over the lush Batoka Gorge in Zimbabwe, showcasing stunning natural beauty.

Zimbabwe

Africa · Southern Africa

Medium safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

Locals speak English well. Life expectancy is short.

BackpackerAffordable cost of living.
Safety

89th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.051lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#89 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
6.8per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
39.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,660national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
9.6New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
9.5years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 601% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 45% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$6.0K$12K$6,470 PPP$3,021Inflation, % a year600%0200620102015202020252006, $431 a person, $2,454 at PPP2007, $414 a person, $2,396 at PPP2008, $341 a person, $1,987 at PPP2009, $736 a person, $2,233 at PPP2010, $902 a person, $2,661 at PPP, inflation 3%2011, $1,038 a person, $3,047 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2012, $1,239 a person, $3,472 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2013, $1,363 a person, $3,784 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2014, $1,373 a person, $3,903 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $1,387 a person, $4,046 at PPP, inflation -2.4%2016, $1,408 a person, $4,275 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2017, $3,445 a person, $10,756 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2018, $2,271 a person, $3,993 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2019, $2,185 a person, $4,166 at PPP, inflation 255.3%2020, $2,060 a person, $4,179 at PPP, inflation 557.2%2021, $2,614 a person, $4,827 at PPP, inflation 98.5%2022, $2,536 a person, $5,395 at PPP, inflation 104.7%2023, $2,195 a person, $5,796 at PPP2024, $2,496 a person, $5,933 at PPP2025, $3,021 a person, $6,470 at PPP$0$6.0K$12KInflation, % a year600%0200620102015202020252006, $431 a person, $2,454 at PPP2007, $414 a person, $2,396 at PPP2008, $341 a person, $1,987 at PPP2009, $736 a person, $2,233 at PPP2010, $902 a person, $2,661 at PPP, inflation 3%2011, $1,038 a person, $3,047 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2012, $1,239 a person, $3,472 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2013, $1,363 a person, $3,784 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2014, $1,373 a person, $3,903 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $1,387 a person, $4,046 at PPP, inflation -2.4%2016, $1,408 a person, $4,275 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2017, $3,445 a person, $10,756 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2018, $2,271 a person, $3,993 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2019, $2,185 a person, $4,166 at PPP, inflation 255.3%2020, $2,060 a person, $4,179 at PPP, inflation 557.2%2021, $2,614 a person, $4,827 at PPP, inflation 98.5%2022, $2,536 a person, $5,395 at PPP, inflation 104.7%2023, $2,195 a person, $5,796 at PPP2024, $2,496 a person, $5,933 at PPP2025, $3,021 a person, $6,470 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
63.1years, at birthVery low
#178 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
59WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
13.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
9.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
32 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
602EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet32 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Victoria Falls Bridge gracefully arcs over the lush Batoka Gorge in Zimbabwe, showcasing stunning natural beauty.
How it changed

Zimbabwe's Human Development Index

0.598Medium human development

153rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 21st of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #151Cambodia0.606
  2. #152Comoros0.603
  3. #153Zimbabwe0.598
  4. #154Zambia0.595
  5. #155Cameroon0.588
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.500 in 1990 to 0.598 in 2023.

0.400.530.650.59819902000201020231990: 0.5001991: 0.5021992: 0.4871993: 0.4831994: 0.4821995: 0.4771996: 0.4721997: 0.4721998: 0.4671999: 0.4622000: 0.4582001: 0.4562002: 0.4592003: 0.4502004: 0.4532005: 0.4552006: 0.4572007: 0.4592008: 0.4562009: 0.4882010: 0.5122011: 0.5292012: 0.5452013: 0.5542014: 0.5602015: 0.5672016: 0.5702017: 0.5752018: 0.5862019: 0.5842020: 0.5822021: 0.5812022: 0.5942023: 0.5980.400.530.6519902000201020231990: 0.5001991: 0.5021992: 0.4871993: 0.4831994: 0.4821995: 0.4771996: 0.4721997: 0.4721998: 0.4671999: 0.4622000: 0.4582001: 0.4562002: 0.4592003: 0.4502004: 0.4532005: 0.4552006: 0.4572007: 0.4592008: 0.4562009: 0.4882010: 0.5122011: 0.5292012: 0.5452013: 0.5542014: 0.5602015: 0.5672016: 0.5702017: 0.5752018: 0.5862019: 0.5842020: 0.5822021: 0.5812022: 0.5942023: 0.598

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
63.1 years2024at birthUp 16.5 years from 46.6 years in 2005
Internet users
42%2024of people onlineUp 39 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
41%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 33% in 2006
Births per woman
3.672024births per womanDown 0.02 from 3.69 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
82%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 82% in 2004
Access to electricity
62%2024of people with electricityUp 26 points from 36% in 2005
Infant mortality
622024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 65 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.2 t from 0.9 t in 2005
Forest area
45%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 47% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Post-Mugabe recovery, with Victoria Falls shared with Zambia and a chronic currency crisis. The case for living here is good English among locals. The case against is short lives, low incomes and patchy access to essential health services.

About Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a southern African country with a rich culture centred on the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, one of the most important archaeological sites in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside excellent safari areas in Hwange and Mana Pools and the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls. The people are widely considered among the most educated and warmly hospitable in the region. The country is in the process of rebuilding its tourism infrastructure, and those who visit now will find a destination of great beauty with very few crowds.

Practical facts

  • CapitalHarare
  • LanguagesChibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan
  • CurrencyZimbabwe Gold (ZWG)
  • Area386,850 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
Weigh Zimbabwe against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Zimbabwe

Compare Zimbabwe

Borders

BotswanaMozambiqueSouth AfricaZambia

Side by side

Compare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Zimbabwe's Human Development Index?

Zimbabwe's Human Development Index is 0.598 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #153 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Zimbabwe safe?

Zimbabwe scores 2.05 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #89 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Zimbabwe?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Zimbabwe at 35.9 (New York = 100); that is #49 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Zimbabwe?

Life expectancy at birth in Zimbabwe is 63.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #178 of 195 countries.