The Human Truth Foundation

Zimbabwe (Republic of Zimbabwe)

https://www.humantruth.info/zimbabwe.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Zimbabwe
Republic of Zimbabwe
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index184th best
CapitalHarare
Land Area 386 850km21
LocationAfrica
Population14.4m2
Life Expectancy59.25yrs (2017)3
GNI$3 810 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesZW, ZWE, 7165
Internet Domain.zw6
CurrencyDollar (ZWD)7
Telephone+2638

1. Overview

#UK

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. In April 2005, Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing government, in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE since 2010 has called for early elections - his term does not expire until June 2013 - but no election has been held.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThe welcomes are warm and the national parks offer some of Africa´s most rewarding wildlife encounters. Zimbabwe is ready and waiting. All it´s missing is you. After a decade of political ruin, violence and economic disaster, finally some good news is coming out of Zimbabwe - tourism is back. Visitors are returning in numbers not seen since the turmoil began to spot the Big Five strut their stuff around spectacular parks, discover World Heritage-listed archaeological sites and stand in awe of a natural wonder of the world: Victoria Falls.

A journey here will take you through an attractive patchwork of landscapes, from central highveld, balancing boulders and flaming msasa trees, to laid-back towns, lush Eastern Highland mountains and a network of lifeblood rivers up north. Along the way you´ll receive a friendly welcome from locals, famous for their politeness and resilience in the face of hardship.

While there may be a long way to go, sure signs of recovery continue in Zimbabwe, giving hope to this embattled nation that a new dawn will soon rise.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Zimbabwe National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
144Swaziland0.597
145Equatorial Guinea0.596
146=Cambodia0.593
146=Zimbabwe0.593
148Angola0.586
149Myanmar (Burma)0.585
150Syria0.577
151Cameroon0.576
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
153Papua New Guinea$4 009
154Nepal$3 877
155Myanmar (Burma)$3 851
156Zimbabwe$3 810
157Micronesia$3 696
158Cameroon$3 621
159Sudan$3 575
160Benin$3 409
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark29.1
2Norway32.3
3Sweden34.1
...
181Comoros120.3
182Mauritania120.3
183Yemen122.5
184Zimbabwe122.9
185Congo, DR123.5
186Nauru124.3
187Central African Rep.125.4
188Marshall Islands127.3
Africa Avg119.0
World Avg88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Zimbabwe's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Zimbabwe's population is predicted to rise to 17.63 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 3.44. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
70Senegal15.9m
71Chad15.5m
72Somalia15.0m
73Zimbabwe14.4m
74Guinea12.4m
75Rwanda12.3m
76Tunisia11.6m
77Benin11.5m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
181Mozambique59.3
182Burkina Faso59.3
183Namibia59.3
184Zimbabwe59.3
185Congo, DR59.2
186Mali58.9
187Guinea58.9
188Ivory Coast58.6
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
160Hong Kong0.70
161Uzbekistan3.31
162Pakistan3.41
163Zimbabwe3.44
164Iraq3.45
165Gabon3.46
166Nauru3.46
167Ghana3.51
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
8Gambia04.9
9Angola05.0
10=Afghanistan05.0
10=Zimbabwe05.0
12Nigeria05.1
13=Qatar05.1
14Somalia05.4
15=Togo05.4
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
112Azerbaijan2.6%
113Kiribati2.6%
114Samoa2.5%
115Zimbabwe2.4%
116Swaziland2.4%
117Ecuador2.4%
118Paraguay2.4%
119Uruguay2.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
66Uruguay10.5%
67Hong Kong10.2%
68Dominican Rep.10.1%
69Zimbabwe9.9%
70Haiti9.9%
71San Marino9.9%
72Burkina Faso9.7%
73Slovakia9.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women #zimbabwe #zimbabwe_women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
167Laos126.3
168Comoros126.8
169Guinea-Bissau127.3
170Zimbabwe129.1
171Congo, (Brazzaville)129.5
172Cameroon129.7
Africa Avg110.04
World Avg86.55
q=199.
Zimbabwe is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Zimbabwe does worse than average when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)19, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports20, supporting press freedom21, eliminating modern slavery22, opposing gender inequality23, its average Freedom in the World rating, its nominal commitment to Human Rights24, freethought25 and in LGBT equality26. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms27. Zimbabwe has such a poor Human Rights record that political theorist Jack Donnelly in his book "Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice" (2013)28 included it amongst 3 countries for which "compliance with international human rights standards would mean removal of those in power"29. After dictator Robert Mugabe was ousted in 2017, he was replaced by his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, "who has his ownlong record of rights violations"30. Some existing human rights provisions from 2013 are routinely ignored by the government30.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Zimbabwe's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines #zimbabwe

Compared to Africa (2025)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Mauritius71.9
2Tunisia75.6
3Morocco88.2
...
28Togo128.9
29Guinea-Bissau129.4
30Congo, DR129.6
31Zimbabwe130.1
32Gabon130.3
33Sudan130.3
34Tanzania130.8
35Malawi131.5
36Benin132.0
Africa Avg111.13
q=54.
Health (2025)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
178Guinea-Bissau129.4
179Kiribati129.5
180Congo, DR129.6
181Zimbabwe130.1
182Gabon130.3
183Sudan130.3
184Tanzania130.8
185Yemen131.0
World Avg97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man32. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue32.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans32, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia32.

For more, see:

Health:

Zimbabwe has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Zimbabwe does better than average in its smoking rate33, the prevalence of overweight adults34 (but bad for Africa) and in its alcohol consumption rate35. Zimbabwe doesn't do so well in other areas. Zimbabwe does worse than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance36 (still low for Africa), its immunizations take-up37 (still good for Africa), its fertility rate14 (still good for Africa) and in its adolescent birth rate38. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its average life expectancy11. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Zimbabwe in 2001 was the worst in the world, at 42yrs; by 2000 it was second-worst. Life expectancy in Zimbabwe improved by just +1.9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world. Zimbabwe's peak fertility rate was 7.26 in 1964.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
181Mozambique59.3
182Burkina Faso59.3
183Namibia59.3
184Zimbabwe59.3
185Congo, DR59.2
186Mali58.9
187Guinea58.9
188Ivory Coast58.6
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
35
Pos.2016
Per Capita35
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
76=Guinea-Bissau4.8
76=Myanmar (Burma)4.8
76=Zambia4.8
76=Zimbabwe4.8
80Lesotho5.0
81Suriname5.1
82Nicaragua5.2
83Turkmenistan5.4
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
160Hong Kong0.70
161Uzbekistan3.31
162Pakistan3.41
163Zimbabwe3.44
164Iraq3.45
165Gabon3.46
166Nauru3.46
167Ghana3.51
Africa Avg3.97
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
33
Pos.201433
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
28Somalia 117
29Ghana 121
30Benin 122
31Zimbabwe 134
32Mauritania 135
33Bhutan 155
34Chad 156
35Zambia 165
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
104Venezuela104
105Timor-Leste (E. Timor)105
106Serbia106
107Zimbabwe107
108Central African Rep.108
109Benin109
110Costa Rica110
111Dominica111
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
34
Pos.1976
%34
1Bangladesh4.7
2Vietnam5.1
3Nepal5.4
...
61Lesotho15.4
62Namibia15.7
63Swaziland15.8
64Zimbabwe16.3
65=N. Korea16.8
65=Brunei16.8
67Mauritius17.0
68Seychelles17.4
Africa Avg13.4
World Avg27.1
q=191.
Adult Obesity
Lower is better
39
Pos.2022
%39
1Vietnam2.1%
2Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.2%
3Ethiopia2.4%
...
47Yemen11.6%
48Bhutan12.0%
49Ghana12.1%
50Zimbabwe12.4%
51Somalia12.7%
52Gambia13.2%
53Cameroon13.4%
54Singapore13.5%
Africa Avg13.7%
World Avg24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
38
Pos.2022
Per 100038
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
169Lesotho89.1
170Gabon89.8
171Benin90.8
172Zimbabwe92.6
173S. Sudan97.4
174Sierra Leone97.9
175Nigeria99.6
176Congo, (Brazzaville)101.2
Africa Avg84.6
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
37
Pos.2015
Avg %37
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
118Burkina Faso90.6
119Nepal90.1
120Montenegro89.9
121Zimbabwe89.7
122Senegal89.5
123Peru89.3
124Ireland89.2
125Sudan89.2
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

The social and health situation in Zimbabwe declined during the 1990s and into the 2000s, where it fell into the group of only 37 countries that had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19), and made no improvements during the following decade.

This has an impact on family and social stability, damaging the future of the country as a whole. For example, in 2020 in Zimbabwe, 4770 children had to drop out of school because they were pregnant. Although the owner of the charity Orphan's Friend, Siqinisweyinkosi Mhlanga, says that the true figure was about ten times that. The government is trying to help. In August 2020, the Education Act prohibited schools from expelling pregnant girls. In 2021, the rate of dropouts was even higher.40

Stigma and cost, rather than laws, push girls out of school. When they fall pregnant their families often "don't accept that girls can excel", says Samkeliso Tshuma, the founder of The Girls Table, an NGO in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, that promotes girls' rights. Most girls drop out of school before teachers even know they are pregnant.

The minority who persevere soon run into other barriers. When a girl called Happiness became pregnant at 15, she told her parents: "I'm not stopping school." They supported her until she failed her exams, a month after giving birth. They didn't have enough money to pay for her to resit them.

The Economist (2022)40

6. Zimbabwe's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism #zimbabwe

Compared to Africa (2025)41
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank41
1Morocco46.5
2Burundi47.8
3Mali51.0
...
45Sudan97.8
46Comoros99.1
47Mauritania101.2
48Seychelles103.4
49Angola109.5
50Libya121.4
51Zimbabwe121.5
52Somalia131.0
53Eritrea146.2
Africa Avg80.07
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank41
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
179Uzbekistan116.1
180Cook Islands119.6
181Libya121.4
182Zimbabwe121.5
183Solomon Islands121.6
184Marshall Islands123.1
185Palau124.5
186Grenada125.0
World Avg84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"42. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

One of the worst in Africa in terms of its responsibility towards the environment, Zimbabwe ranks 18th-worst in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Zimbabwe does worse than average in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person43 (amongst the highest in Africa), its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, energy to GDP efficiency44 (one of the highest in Africa), its environmental performance45 and in its forested percent change 2000-202046. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population47 (amongst the lowest in Africa).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
46
Pos.Total46
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
171Togo-4.7%
172Zambia-4.8%
173Laos-4.8%
174Zimbabwe-5.1%
175Panama-5.2%
176Samoa-5.7%
177Eritrea-5.7%
178Colombia-5.8%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
45
Pos.201845
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
146Comoros44.2
147Mali43.7
148Rwanda43.7
149Zimbabwe43.4
150Cambodia43.2
151Solomon Islands43.2
152Iraq43.2
153Laos42.9
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
44
Pos.2022
Avg44
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
135Mongolia1.68
136China1.68
137UAE1.73
138Zimbabwe1.74
139Saudi Arabia1.76
140Serbia1.79
141Paraguay1.79
142Jamaica1.83
Africa Avg0.83
World Avg1.23
q=165.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
133Burundi53%
134Iceland53%
135Samoa52%
136Zimbabwe52%
137Suriname52%
138St Vincent & Grenadines52%
139Saudi Arabia52%
140Central African Rep.52%
Africa Avg56.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
47
Pos.2011
%47
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
129Botswana20.4%
130USA19.7%
131Kuwait19.6%
132Zimbabwe19.6%
133Latvia19.5%
134Tunisia19.3%
135Czechia16.0%
136Estonia15.9%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
43
Pos.2021
kg43
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
95Peru54.0
96Mauritius54.2
97Saudi Arabia55.1
98Zimbabwe56.0
99Belize56.6
100Japan57.2
101Turkmenistan57.4
102Papua New Guinea58.5
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Zimbabwe reduced by over 10kgs per year (only 17 countries managed the same), reducing strain on water supplies and the environment.43

7. Zimbabwe's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)48
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank48
1S. Africa56.9
2Tunisia70.8
3=Mauritius79.6
...
12Uganda109.8
13Ghana110.3
14Nigeria111.1
15Zimbabwe111.6
16Cape Verde113.3
17Namibia113.4
18Cameroon114.2
19Swaziland115.9
20Zambia116.3
Africa Avg120.19
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)48
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank48
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
125Ghana110.3
126Nigeria111.1
127Marshall Islands111.1
128Zimbabwe111.6
129Cape Verde113.3
130Namibia113.4
131Turkmenistan114.0
132Cameroon114.2
World Avg86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark49. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone49. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots50.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)51

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe49, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia49.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
52
Pos.201852
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
94Bahrain59.6%
95Brazil59.5%
96Bolivia58.8%
97Zimbabwe58.7%
98Gabon57.6%
99Libya57.4%
100Dominican Rep.56.6%
101Uruguay56.0%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
53
Pos.2021
Years53
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
132San Marino12.3
133Botswana12.3
134Angola12.2
135Zimbabwe12.1
136Iraq12.1
137Ghana12.0
138Lesotho12.0
139Namibia11.9
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
95Mexico95
96Guinea96
97St Vincent & Grenadines97
98Zimbabwe98
99Panama99
100Laos100
101Cameroon101
102Peru102
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
IQ
Higher is better54
Pos.200654
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
128=Liberia67
128=Haiti67
130Gambia66
131=Zimbabwe66
131=Senegal66
133Sierra Leone64
134=Mozambique64
134=Ethiopia64
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
55
Pos.201655
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
145Honduras22%
146Botswana21%
147Libya21%
148Zimbabwe21%
149Equatorial Guinea21%
150Lesotho21%
151Indonesia20%
152Marshall Islands20%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
56
Pos.201256
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
...
28Azerbaijan50
29Rwanda51
30Russia52
31Zimbabwe54
32Sri Lanka55
33Kazakhstan58
34Egypt59
35Thailand61
Africa Avg45.0
World Avg46.7
q=47.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
57
Pos.202457
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
112Tanzania26.9%
113Uganda26.9%
114Tajikistan25.9%
115Zimbabwe24.9%
116Mali24.9%
117Ethiopia23.7%
118Cameroon23.4%
119Mozambique21.4%
Africa Avg32.3%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. Zimbabwe's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism #zimbabwe

Compared to Africa (2020)58
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank58
1Mauritius48.3
2Sao Tome & Principe67.7
3Tunisia74.9
...
36Niger106.1
37Cameroon109.9
38Mozambique110.1
39Zimbabwe110.9
40Mali115.6
41Congo, (Brazzaville)115.7
42Libya115.8
43Guinea-Bissau119.3
44Angola122.2
Africa Avg101.84
q=53.
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)58
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank58
1Denmark11.2
2Norway13.9
3Netherlands14.4
...
157Mozambique110.1
158Papua New Guinea110.3
159Cambodia110.5
160Zimbabwe110.9
161Venezuela113.1
162Mali115.6
163Congo, (Brazzaville)115.7
164Libya115.8
World Avg78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

National Culture:

Zimbabwe has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption, with only a few signs of improvement.

World Giving Index
Higher is better
59
Pos.2022
%59
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
106=Greece32.0
107Georgia31.0
108=Morocco31.0
108=Zimbabwe31.0
110Romania30.0
111=Algeria30.0
112Pakistan29.0
113=Latvia29.0
Africa Avg38.2
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
60
Pos.2022
Points60
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
154Cambodia24.0
155=Afghanistan24.0
155=Tajikistan24.0
157Zimbabwe23.0
158=Myanmar (Burma)23.0
158=Azerbaijan23.0
158=Honduras23.0
158=Iraq23.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
61
Pos.2024
Score61
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
140Yemen3.6
141Congo, DR3.5
142Botswana3.4
143Zimbabwe3.4
144Malawi3.3
145Lebanon3.2
146Sierra Leone3.0
147Afghanistan1.4
Africa Avg4.42
World Avg5.58
q=147.
After a few years of steady decline, Zimbabwe became the unhappiest country in the world in 2020, before gradually improving.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
119Brazil119
120Honduras120
121Tanzania121
122Zimbabwe122
123Egypt123
124Burkina Faso124
125Dominican Rep.125
126Oman126
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
23Hungary23
24Jordan24
25Mauritius25
26Zimbabwe26
27Canada27
28Trinidad & Tobago28
29Timor-Leste (E. Timor)29
30Burkina Faso30
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
62
Pos.2023
Score62
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
122El Salvador2.28
123Nicaragua2.29
124=Uganda2.30
124=Zimbabwe2.30
126India2.31
127Guinea2.36
128Burundi2.39
129Haiti2.40
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
67Sweden67
68Congo, (Brazzaville)68
69Bulgaria69
70Zimbabwe70
71Spain71
72USA72
73Cyprus73
74Jamaica74
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
148Bahamas148
149Marshall Islands149
150Burundi150
151Zimbabwe151
152Grenada152
153Angola153
154Guyana154
155Congo, DR155
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
63
Pos.2019
Score63
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
80Australia2.65
81Congo, (Brazzaville)2.69
82Ireland2.69
83Zimbabwe2.83
84Peru2.84
85Rwanda2.95
86Nicaragua2.95
87Jordan3.09
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better64
Pos.201964
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
143Turkmenistan23.40
144=Djibouti23.40
145Papua New Guinea24.10
146=Zimbabwe24.20
146=Ghana24.20
148Kiribati24.70
149=Yemen24.70
150Ethiopia24.90
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
65
Pos.2023
%65
1Slovakia24.1%66
2Slovenia24.3%66
3Belarus24.4%67
...
155=Panama48.9%68
155=Congo, (Brazzaville)48.9%69
157Mozambique50.3%70
158=Zimbabwe50.3%70
159Angola51.3%71
160Zambia51.5%72
161Brazil52.0%72
162Botswana53.3%73
Africa Avg40.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Zimbabwe - only for 3 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
74
Pos.2018
Severity74
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
52Congo, (Brazzaville).112
53India.123
54Guatemala.134
55Zimbabwe.137
56Ghana.138
57Lesotho.146
58Nepal.148
59Cambodia.170
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_zimbabwe #zimbabwe

Disbelief In God (2007)75
Pos.Higher is better
%75
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
50=Laos5
50=Ireland5
50=Mozambique5
53Zimbabwe4
54=Namibia4
54=Iran4
54=Mexico4
54=Portugal4
54=Romania4
54=Argentina4
54=Georgia4
54=Uzbekistan4
62Lebanon3
63=Congo, (Brazzaville)3
63=Poland3
63=Jamaica3
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below76:

Christian87%
Muslim0.9%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion3.8%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated7.9%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%77.

Freedom of Religion and Belief:

Links: