Zimbabwe (Republic of Zimbabwe)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Zimbabwe Republic of Zimbabwe
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	181st best
Capital	Harare
Land Area	386 850km²₁
Location	Africa
Population	14.4m₂
Life Expectancy	59.25yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$3 810 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	ZW, ZWE, 716₅
Internet Domain	.zw₆
Currency	Dollar (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

“The 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
144	Swaziland	0.597
145	Equatorial Guinea	0.596
146=	Cambodia	0.593
146=	Zimbabwe	0.593
148	Angola	0.586
149	Myanmar	0.585
150	Syria	0.577
151	Cameroon	0.576
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
153	Papua New Guinea	$4 009
154	Nepal	$3 877
155	Myanmar	$3 851
156	Zimbabwe	$3 810
157	Micronesia	$3 696
158	Cameroon	$3 621
159	Sudan	$3 575
160	Benin	$3 409
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
178	Solomon Islands	122.4
179	Papua New Guinea	123.0
180	Iraq	123.1
181	Zimbabwe	123.3
182	Marshall Islands	123.4
183	Guinea	123.7
184	Comoros	124.4
185	Mauritania	124.8
	Africa Avg	115.3
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

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 Datasets:

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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
70	Senegal	15.9m
71	Chad	15.5m
72	Somalia	15.0m
73	Zimbabwe	14.4m
74	Guinea	12.4m
75	Rwanda	12.3m
76	Tunisia	11.6m
77	Benin	11.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
181	Mozambique	59.3
182	Burkina Faso	59.3
183	Namibia	59.3
184	Zimbabwe	59.3
185	Congo, DR	59.2
186	Mali	58.9
187	Guinea	58.9
188	Ivory Coast	58.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
160	Hong Kong	0.70
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
8=	Gambia	04.9
9=	Angola	05.0
9=	Afghanistan	05.0
9=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12=	Nigeria	05.1
12=	Qatar	05.1
14=	Somalia	05.4
14=	Togo	05.4
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
112	Azerbaijan	2.6%
113	Kiribati	2.6%
114	Samoa	2.5%
115	Zimbabwe	2.4%
116	Swaziland	2.4%
117	Ecuador	2.4%
118	Paraguay	2.4%
119	Uruguay	2.3%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
66	Uruguay	10.5%
67	Hong Kong	10.2%
68	Dominican Rep.	10.1%
69	Zimbabwe	9.9%
70	Haiti	9.9%
71	San Marino	9.9%
72	Burkina Faso	9.7%
73	Slovakia	9.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
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)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
166	Zambia	127.2
167	Oman	127.4
168	Chad	128.0
169	Zimbabwe	128.0
170	Nigeria	128.6
171	Burundi	129.3
	Africa Avg	116.66
	World Avg	89.80
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 better than average in combatting modern slavery₂₀. But that's it. Zimbabwe has problems. It does worse than average in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₁, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, supporting press freedom₂₃, opposing gender inequality₂₄, its average Freedom in the World rating, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₅, freethought₂₆ and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₈. Zimbabwe has such a poor Human Rights record that political theorist Jack Donnelly in his book "Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice" (2013)₂₉ included it amongst 3 countries for which "compliance with international human rights standards would mean removal of those in power"₃₀. After dictator Robert Mugabe was ousted in 2017, he was replaced by his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, "who has his ownlong record of rights violations"₃₁. Some existing human rights provisions from 2013 are routinely ignored by the government₃₁.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Zimbabwe

5. Zimbabwe's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)₃₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₂
1	Mauritius	72.2
2	Tunisia	73.9
3	Seychelles	78.0
	...
16	S. Africa	123.0
17	Namibia	125.2
18	Senegal	125.2
19	Zimbabwe	125.4
20	Djibouti	126.1
21	Lesotho	126.2
22	Burundi	126.4
23	Tanzania	127.7
24	Swaziland	127.8
	Africa Avg	127.77
q=54.

Health (2025)₃₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₂
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
157=	Samoa	124.1
158	Namibia	125.2
159	Senegal	125.2
160	Zimbabwe	125.4
161	Haiti	126.1
162	Djibouti	126.1
163	Lesotho	126.2
164	Burundi	126.4
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₃. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₃.

42 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, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₃, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₃.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide #zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a pretty unhealthy country. Zimbabwe does better than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₄, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₅ (but bad for Africa) and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₆. However Zimbabwe performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₇ (still good for Africa), delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₈, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₉ (still good for Africa), its suicide rate₄₀, its fertility rate₁₅ (still low for Africa), childhood mortality in the 2020s₄₁ and in its adolescent birth rate₄₂. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its average life expectancy₁₁. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during 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 better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
181	Mozambique	59.3
182	Burkina Faso	59.3
183	Namibia	59.3
184	Zimbabwe	59.3
185	Congo, DR	59.2
186	Mali	58.9
187	Guinea	58.9
188	Ivory Coast	58.6
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₆
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
76=	Guinea-Bissau	4.8
76=	Myanmar	4.8
76=	Zambia	4.8
76=	Zimbabwe	4.8
80	Lesotho	5.0
81	Suriname	5.1
82	Nicaragua	5.2
83	Turkmenistan	5.4
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
160	Hong Kong	0.70
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₄
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
38	Cape Verde	11.0%
39	Guyana	11.2%
40	Burundi	11.2%
41=	Zimbabwe	11.3%
41=	Bahamas	11.3%
43	Guatemala	12.0%
44	Canada	12.1%
45	Brazil	12.2%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₄₀
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
149	Czechia	14.46
150	Switzerland	14.61
151=	Sweden	14.71
151=	Zimbabwe	14.71
153	Cape Verde	14.81
154	India	15.09
155	Moldova	15.53
156	Austria	15.88
	Africa Avg	7.70
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
104	Venezuela	104
105	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	105
106	Serbia	106
107	Zimbabwe	107
108	Central African Rep.	108
109	Benin	109
110	Costa Rica	110
111	Dominica	111
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		1976 %₃₅
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
61	Lesotho	15.4
62	Namibia	15.7
63	Swaziland	15.8
64	Zimbabwe	16.3
65=	N. Korea	16.8
65=	Brunei	16.8
67	Mauritius	17.0
68	Seychelles	17.4
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2022 %₄₃
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
47	Yemen	11.6%
48	Bhutan	12.0%
49	Ghana	12.1%
50	Zimbabwe	12.4%
51	Somalia	12.7%
52	Gambia	13.2%
53	Cameroon	13.4%
54	Singapore	13.5%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₄₂
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
169	Lesotho	89.1
170	Gabon	89.8
171	Benin	90.8
172	Zimbabwe	92.6
173	S. Sudan	97.4
174	Sierra Leone	97.9
175	Nigeria	99.6
176	Congo, (Brazzaville)	101.2
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₈
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₈
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
116=	Lithuania	91.6
117	Lesotho	91.4
118	Samoa	91.3
119=	Zimbabwe	91.0
119=	Georgia	91.0
119=	Marshall Islands	91.0
122	Kosovo	90.9
123	Dominican Rep.	90.9
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₉
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₉
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
118	Burkina Faso	90.6
119	Nepal	90.1
120	Montenegro	89.9
121	Zimbabwe	89.7
122	Senegal	89.5
123	Peru	89.3
124	Ireland	89.2
125	Sudan	89.2
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₄₁
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₄₁
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
163	Gambia	61.12
164	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	62.21
165	Zambia	63.61
166	Zimbabwe	63.76
167	Sudan	65.51
168	Djibouti	66.40
169	Madagascar	66.96
170	Ethiopia	67.34
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

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.₄₄

“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)₄₄

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)₄₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₅
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
45	Sudan	97.8
46	Comoros	99.1
47	Mauritania	101.2
48	Seychelles	103.4
49	Angola	109.5
50	Libya	121.4
51	Zimbabwe	121.5
52	Somalia	131.0
53	Eritrea	146.2
	Africa Avg	78.58
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₅
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
179	Uzbekistan	116.1
180	Cook Islands	119.6
181	Libya	121.4
182	Zimbabwe	121.5
183	Solomon Islands	121.6
184	Marshall Islands	123.1
185	Palau	124.5
186	Grenada	125.0
	World Avg	84.93
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"₄₆. 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:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Zimbabwe ranks 18th-worst in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment (one of the worst in Africa). This is computed from 21 data sets. Zimbabwe does worse than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇ (one of the highest in Africa), its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, energy to GDP efficiency₄₈ (one of the worst in Africa), its environmental performance₄₉ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₅₀. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₅₁ (amongst the lowest in Africa).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₅₀
Pos.		Total₅₀
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
171	Togo	-4.7%
172	Zambia	-4.8%
173	Laos	-4.8%
174	Zimbabwe	-5.1%
175	Panama	-5.2%
176	Samoa	-5.7%
177	Eritrea	-5.7%
178	Colombia	-5.8%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₉
Pos.		2018₄₉
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
146	Comoros	44.2
147	Mali	43.7
148	Rwanda	43.7
149	Zimbabwe	43.4
150	Cambodia	43.2
151	Solomon Islands	43.2
152	Iraq	43.2
153	Laos	42.9
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₈
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₈
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
135	Mongolia	1.68
136	China	1.68
137	UAE	1.73
138	Zimbabwe	1.74
139	Saudi Arabia	1.76
140	Serbia	1.79
141	Paraguay	1.79
142	Jamaica	1.83
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
133	Burundi	53%
134	Iceland	53%
135	Samoa	52%
136	Zimbabwe	52%
137	Suriname	52%
138	St Vincent & Grenadines	52%
139	Saudi Arabia	52%
140	Central African Rep.	52%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2011 %₅₁
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
129	Botswana	20.4%
130	USA	19.7%
131	Kuwait	19.6%
132	Zimbabwe	19.6%
133	Latvia	19.5%
134	Tunisia	19.3%
135	Czechia	16.0%
136	Estonia	15.9%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₇
Pos.		2021 kg₄₇
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
95	Peru	54.0
96	Mauritius	54.2
97	Saudi Arabia	55.1
98	Zimbabwe	56.0
99	Belize	56.6
100	Japan	57.2
101	Turkmenistan	57.4
102	Papua New Guinea	58.5
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

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.₄₇

7. Zimbabwe's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)₅₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₂
1	S. Africa	63.3
2	Seychelles	63.4
3	Tunisia	68.7
	...
17	Uganda	117.3
18	Togo	119.6
19	Swaziland	120.1
20	Zimbabwe	121.5
21	Senegal	121.8
22	Zambia	123.9
23	Ivory Coast	124.9
24	Benin	126.2
25	Comoros	126.9
	Africa Avg	124.71
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₅₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₂
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
142	Swaziland	120.1
143	Belize	121.2
144	Iraq	121.2
145	Zimbabwe	121.5
146	Senegal	121.8
147	Pakistan	122.6
148	Nauru	123.9
149	Zambia	123.9
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

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, Iceland and Denmark₅₃. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₃. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₄.

“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)₅₅

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, 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 Europe₅₃, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₃.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
95	Mexico	95
96	Guinea	96
97	St Vincent & Grenadines	97
98	Zimbabwe	98
99	Panama	99
100	Laos	100
101	Cameroon	101
102	Peru	102
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		2025 %₅₆
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
167=	Comoros	90
167=	Palestine	90
167=	Congo, DR	90
167=	Zimbabwe	90
167=	Zambia	90
167=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	90
167=	Cameroon	90
174=	Eritrea	85
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Adopted metric in 1969. Progression:

1960 (40%): Colonial mix; limited metric outside science.
1970 (60%): Metrication in official sectors.
1980 (80%): Commerce/education largely metric.
2000 (90%): Metric dominant; minor informal legacy.
2025 (90%).

IQ Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2006₅₇
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
128=	Liberia	67
128=	Haiti	67
130=	Gambia	66
130=	Zimbabwe	66
130=	Senegal	66
133=	Sierra Leone	64
133=	Mozambique	64
133=	Ethiopia	64
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2018₅₈
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
94	Bahrain	59.6%
95	Brazil	59.5%
96	Bolivia	58.8%
97	Zimbabwe	58.7%
98	Gabon	57.6%
99	Libya	57.4%
100	Dominican Rep.	56.6%
101	Uruguay	56.0%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₉
Pos.		2021 Years₅₉
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
132	San Marino	12.3
133	Botswana	12.3
134	Angola	12.2
135	Zimbabwe	12.1
136	Iraq	12.1
137	Ghana	12.0
138	Lesotho	12.0
139	Namibia	11.9
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
152	Micronesia	39%
153	Ivory Coast	38%
154	Nigeria	36%
155	Zimbabwe	36%
156	Kenya	35%
157	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	34%
158	Congo, (Brazzaville)	34%
159	Mali	33%
	Africa Avg	41.0%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₆₀
Pos.		2012₆₀
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
28	Azerbaijan	50
29	Rwanda	51
30	Russia	52
31	Zimbabwe	54
32	Sri Lanka	55
33	Kazakhstan	58
34	Egypt	59
35	Thailand	61
	Africa Avg	45.0
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2024₆₁
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
112	Tanzania	26.9%
113	Uganda	26.9%
114	Tajikistan	25.9%
115	Zimbabwe	24.9%
116	Mali	24.9%
117	Ethiopia	23.7%
118	Cameroon	23.4%
119	Mozambique	21.4%
	Africa Avg	32.3%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Zimbabwe's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Africa (2025)₆₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₂
1	Mauritius	51.4
2	Seychelles	66.9
3	Tunisia	76.2
	...
32	Nigeria	110.6
33	Madagascar	111.2
34	Rwanda	113.0
35	Zimbabwe	115.1
36	Niger	115.6
37	Cameroon	116.5
38	Mozambique	119.2
39	Sudan	119.9
40	Mali	120.2
	Africa Avg	110.07
q=54.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₆₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₂
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
156	Turkmenistan	111.5
157	Pakistan	111.8
158	Rwanda	113.0
159	Zimbabwe	115.1
160	Iraq	115.2
161	Niger	115.6
162	Cameroon	116.5
163	Papua New Guinea	116.6
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics #zimbabwe

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

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2022 %₆₃
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
106=	Greece	32.0
107=	Georgia	31.0
107=	Morocco	31.0
107=	Zimbabwe	31.0
110=	Romania	30.0
110=	Algeria	30.0
112=	Pakistan	29.0
112=	Latvia	29.0
	Africa Avg	38.2
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2022 Points₆₄
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
154=	Cambodia	24.0
154=	Afghanistan	24.0
154=	Tajikistan	24.0
157=	Zimbabwe	23.0
157=	Myanmar	23.0
157=	Azerbaijan	23.0
157=	Honduras	23.0
157=	Iraq	23.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2024 Score₆₅
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
140	Yemen	3.6
141	Congo, DR	3.5
142	Botswana	3.4
143	Zimbabwe	3.4
144	Malawi	3.3
145	Lebanon	3.2
146	Sierra Leone	3.0
147	Afghanistan	1.4
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

After a few years of steady decline, Zimbabwe became the unhappiest country in the world in 2020, before gradually improving.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
119	Brazil	119
120	Honduras	120
121	Tanzania	121
122	Zimbabwe	122
123	Egypt	123
124	Burkina Faso	124
125	Dominican Rep.	125
126	Oman	126
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₆₆
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
130	Philippines	66.3
131	Armenia	65.7
132	Ghana	65.3
133	Zimbabwe	65.2
134	Sierra Leone	64.2
135=	Kyrgyzstan	63.3
135=	Cuba	63.3
137=	Benin	62.5
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
23	Hungary	23
24	Jordan	24
25	Mauritius	25
26	Zimbabwe	26
27	Canada	27
28	Trinidad & Tobago	28
29	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	29
30	Burkina Faso	30
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₇
Pos.		2023 Score₆₇
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
122	El Salvador	2.28
123	Nicaragua	2.29
124=	Uganda	2.30
124=	Zimbabwe	2.30
126	India	2.31
127	Guinea	2.36
128	Burundi	2.39
129	Haiti	2.40
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
67	Sweden	67
68	Congo, (Brazzaville)	68
69	Bulgaria	69
70	Zimbabwe	70
71	Spain	71
72	USA	72
73	Cyprus	73
74	Jamaica	74
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
148	Bahamas	148
149	Marshall Islands	149
150	Burundi	150
151	Zimbabwe	151
152	Grenada	152
153	Angola	153
154	Guyana	154
155	Congo, DR	155
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2019 Score₆₈
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
80	Australia	2.65
81	Congo, (Brazzaville)	2.69
82	Ireland	2.69
83	Zimbabwe	2.83
84	Peru	2.84
85	Rwanda	2.95
86	Nicaragua	2.95
87	Jordan	3.09
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2019₆₉
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
143=	Turkmenistan	23.40
143=	Djibouti	23.40
145	Papua New Guinea	24.10
146=	Zimbabwe	24.20
146=	Ghana	24.20
148=	Kiribati	24.70
148=	Yemen	24.70
150	Ethiopia	24.90
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₀
Pos.		2023 %₇₀
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₁
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₁
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₂
	...
155=	Panama	48.9%₇₃
155=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	48.9%₇₄
157=	Mozambique	50.3%₇₅
157=	Zimbabwe	50.3%₇₅
159	Angola	51.3%₇₆
160	Zambia	51.5%₇₇
161	Brazil	52.0%₇₇
162	Botswana	53.3%₇₈
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

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

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₇₉
Pos.		2018 Severity₇₉
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
52	Congo, (Brazzaville)	.112
53	India	.123
54	Guatemala	.134
55	Zimbabwe	.137
56	Ghana	.138
57	Lesotho	.146
58	Nepal	.148
59	Cambodia	.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)₈₀
Pos.		Higher is better %₈₀
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
50=	Laos	5
50=	Ireland	5
50=	Mozambique	5
53=	Zimbabwe	4
53=	Namibia	4
53=	Iran	4
53=	Mexico	4
53=	Portugal	4
53=	Romania	4
53=	Argentina	4
53=	Georgia	4
53=	Uzbekistan	4
62=	Lebanon	3
62=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	3
62=	Poland	3
62=	Jamaica	3
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₁:

	2010	2020
Christian	84.4%	87.2%
Unaffiliated	12.5%	10.5%
Other	2.47%	1.65%
Muslim	0.503%	0.529%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

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%₈₂.

Freedom of Religion and Belief:

Links: