Zimbabwe
Africa · Southern Africa
Post-Mugabe recovery, with Victoria Falls shared with Zambia and a chronic currency crisis.
At a Glance
📈Zimbabwe's Human Development Index
0.550
Medium human development#158 of 191 countries worldwide, #24 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 17% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Experienced the world's second-worst hyperinflation on record — 500 billion percent in 2008.
- Has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, legacy of a strong post-independence education system.
- Great Zimbabwe ruins — for which the country is named — were built without mortar and stand today.
Quick Facts
Capital
Harare
Languages
Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan
Currency
$ ZWL
Area
386,850 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
32Mbps
GDP / Capita
$3K
PPP / Capita
$6K
Inflation
104.7%
Unemployment
9.3%
Innovation (GII)
15.4
GNI / Capita
$3K
FDI Inflows
1.1%
Education Spend
0.4%
Cost of Living
35.9
Price Level Index
44th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.479 → 0.550 (+0.071)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Zimbabwe for real?
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💬Quick answers
What is Zimbabwe's Human Development Index?
Zimbabwe's Human Development Index is 0.550 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #158 of 191 countries.
Is Zimbabwe safe?
Zimbabwe scores 2.05 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #89 of 160 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.