Filed under Africa and more precisely Eastern Africa, Zimbabwe is a sovereign state. In formal use it is Republic of Zimbabwe. Harare is the capital.
Around 16.6 million people live there, placing it 74th of 250 by population — between Cambodia above it and Guinea below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 8th of 20 in size and 10th in population.
By land area it covers 390,757 km², which ranks it 62nd of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Paraguay and just ahead of Japan. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is a little larger than Japan.
Location, borders and position
The coordinates the dataset gives are 20.0° S, 30.0° E, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 2,226 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
4 countries share a land border with it: Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. The largest of them by area is South Africa, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 122.5 million people.
It has no sea coast of its own. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, so all seaborne trade runs through a neighbour's ports. 2 of its neighbours, Botswana and Zambia, are landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Population divided by land area gives roughly 43 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
Someone from Zimbabwe is a Zimbabwean.
15 languages carry official status: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. Chibarwe, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Tonga and Zimbabwean Sign Language are listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes them effectively unique to Zimbabwe. Chewa, the first listed, is shared with 1 other entry worldwide.
Inside Africa it places 26th of 59 by population, and it accounts for 3.4% of everyone living in Eastern Africa.
Currency and codes
More than one currency circulates: Botswana pula (BWP), Chinese yuan (CNY), Euro (EUR), British pound (GBP), Indian rupee (INR), Japanese yen (JPY), United States dollar (USD), South African rand (ZAR) and Zimbabwean bonds (ZWB). It shares that currency with Botswana.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Zimbabwe, the answer is Harare.
Its internet country code is .zw. To phone it from abroad you dial +263. Standard country codes: zw and ZWE.
It holds a seat at the United Nations, one of 193 entries here that do. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Zimbabwe shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Zimbabwe
- Its full official name is Republic of Zimbabwe.
- In land area it is a little larger than Japan.
- Chewa is official here and in 1 other entry worldwide.
- Within Eastern Africa it is the 8th largest of 20.
- Population density works out at roughly 43 people per square kilometre.
- Its currency, the Botswana pula, is shared with 1 other entry.
- Chibarwe, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Tonga and Zimbabwean Sign Language are listed as official languages for no other entry in this dataset.
Zimbabwe — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Zimbabwe?
- The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare.
- What is the population of Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe has a population of about 16.6 million, which makes it the 74th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Cambodia sits just above it and Guinea just below.
- Which countries border Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe borders 4 countries: Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. South Africa is the largest of them by area.
- Is Zimbabwe landlocked?
- Yes. Zimbabwe has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- Where is Zimbabwe located?
- Zimbabwe is in Eastern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 20.0° south and 30.0° east, roughly 2,226 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- What currency does Zimbabwe use?
- Zimbabwe uses the Botswana pula, written P (currency code BWP). It is shared with 1 other entry: Botswana.
- How big is Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe covers 390,757 km², ranking 62nd of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than Japan.
- Is Zimbabwe a country?
- Yes. Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What language is spoken in Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe lists 15 official languages: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. Chibarwe, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Tonga and Zimbabwean Sign Language do not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
