Zimbabwe is a landlocked southern African nation famous for the medieval ruins of Great Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean half of Victoria Falls, and the granite kopjes of the Matobo Hills.
Geography & landscape
Zimbabwe sits in Eastern Africa, in the southern hemisphere of Africa. With an area of approximately 390,757 km², it is a mid-sized country, set in the southern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Harare, lies near coordinates -19°, 29.75°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Africa, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Eastern Africa region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Zimbabwe.
People & society
The population of Zimbabwe is around 16M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Zimbabwe recognises multiple official languages — English, Shona, Ndebele and +13 — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Zimbabwe is structured as a presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Harare, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Zimbabwe is the US Dollar (USD). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Harare and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Zimbabwe shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Zimbabwe through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Harare, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +263, and clocks are set to the CAT (UTC+2) time zone. ISO standards identify Zimbabwe as ZW (alpha-2) and ZWE (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇿🇼, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Harare | — |
| Continent | Africa | — |
| Sub-region | Eastern Africa | — |
| Population | 16M | people |
| Area | 390,757 | km² |
| Currency | US Dollar (USD) | — |
| Calling code | +263 | international dialling |
| Time zone | CAT (UTC+2) | standard time |
| Government type | Presidential republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | ZW | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | ZWE | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | -19 | degrees |
| Longitude | 29.75 | degrees |
Did you know?
Zimbabwe was named after Great Zimbabwe, the medieval stone city whose ruins are the largest pre-colonial structures in sub-Saharan Africa.
