Demographics of Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
This article is about the demographic
features of the population
of Zimbabwe
, including population density
, ethnicity
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
, comprise 50%. Included among the Shona are about 2 million descendants of migrant workers from Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. Also incorrectly included are the Shangaan found in Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts-they originated from South Africa in the 19th Century and were led by Soshangane.The Shangaan in Manicaland bear names like Mhlanga, Mlambo,Maphosa, Dhlamini, Dhliwayo, Hlathwayo,Sithole, Zabanyana, Mzilikazi, Makanza, Mauchaza, Muchakazi, etc. The Ndebele
are approximately 10% of the population as some so-called Ndebeles have no relationship with the Ndebeles whatsoever. The Ndebele are descended from Zulu migrations in the nineteenth century.The balance comprises the Kalanga, Nambya, Tonga, Venda and Suthu. The national prominence of Ndebele and Shona is due to the Education Act which prescribed these two languages for the school carricullum for both primary and secondary education. However, Kalanga and Nambya are dialectically the same as Karanga, a Shona dialect. Support for the opposition is particularly strong among the non-Shona, but is by no means confined to it. Up to three million Zimbabweans have left the country over the last five years, mainly for South Africa.
Other less populous Zimbabwean ethnic groups include white Zimbabweans
, mostly of British origin (95%), but some are of Afrikaner
, Portuguese
and Dutch
origin as well, who make up approximately 0.5% of the total population. (It is currently extremely hard to keep track of the current trends of the white population. As the last census is almost certainly inaccurate, the figure could be as high as 1.5% of the total population or as low as 0.01% of the total population.) Because of the economic climate in Zimbabwe, many whites had to make a quick escape and therefore many businesses and properties are still in the hands of white Zimbabwean citizens living abroad. It is possible that any long term change in Zimbabwe's economic and political situation may bring many white Zimbabweans home. The white population dropped from a peak of around 280,000-300,000 in 1975-1979 to about 70,000 in the mid 1990s. The 2001 census put the white population at around 50,000 although this is probably an understatement because of domicile issues. Most white emigration has been to the UK, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Australia
and New Zealand
. Before the economic and political crisis began in the late 1990s, there were 50,000 Mixed race
citizens as well as various Asian ethnic groups (40,000), mostly of India
n and Chinese
origin. They have played an influential role in the economic sector. However, both the mixed-race and Asian ethnic groups have dwindled (now each less than 0.01% of the population) as most of these people have fled Zimbabwe along with most whites and three to four million black Zimbabweans. In fact it has been estimated that one-quarter to one-third of Zimbabweans have fled en masse mostly to South Africa and neighboring countries as well as overseas to Britain as Zimbabwe's economy has imploded over the last ten years.
World Health Organization
, the life expectancy for men is 37 years and the life expectancy for women is 34 years of age, the lowest in the world in 2006. An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.
Zimbabwe has a very high HIV
infection rate. In 2001 it was measured at its highest level ever of 33.7% for people aged 15–49.
is the official language
of Zimbabwe, though less than 2.5%, mainly the white and Coloured
(mixed race) minorities, consider it their native language. The rest of the population speak Shona
(50%) and Ndebele
(10%) Kalanga (25%), etc. Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo
, published in 1956. English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas. Television news is broadcasted in English,but radio broadcasts in English, Ndebele, Shona, Kalanga, Nambya, Venda, Suthu and Tonga. English, Ndebele and Shona are given far more airtime.
churches. The largest Christian churches are Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Methodist. However like most former European colonies
, Christianity is often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. Besides Christianity, ancestral worship (Amadlozi) is the most practiced non-Christian religion
which involves ancestor worship and spiritual
intercession. Under 1% of the population is Muslim
, although many Zimbabweans are influenced by Islamic food laws.
Aside from those who fled into the neighbouring countries, an estimated 570,000 people are displaced within the borders of the country, many of whom remain in transit camps and have limited access to assistance. Most of the displaced have been victims of the Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 and continuing evictions and violent farm seizures. Their plight is virtually impossible to assess, as there has been no national survey of people displaced since 2005.
(2003, 2000 est.)
(2003, 2000 est.)
(2003 est.)
(2000 est.)
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, including population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Population
The population of Zimbabwe has grown during the twentieth century in accordance with the model of a developing country with high birth rates and falling death rates, resulting in relatively high population growth rate (around 3% or above in the 1960s and early 1970s). After a spurt in the period 1980-1983 following independence, a decline in birth rates set in. Since 1991, however, there has been a jump in death rates from a low of 10 per 1000 in 1985 to a high of 25 per 1000 in 2002/2003. It has since subsided to just under 22 per 1000 (estimate for 2007) a little below the birth rate of around 27 per 1000. The high death rate is due to the impact of AIDS, which is by far the main cause of death. This leads to a small natural increase of around 0.5%. However, outward migration rates of around 1.5% or more have been experienced for over a decade, therefore actual population changes are uncertain. Because of the high number of unaccounted emigrants, the recent increase of emigration and the death toll from AIDS, the total population might be declining to as low as 8 million according to some estimates.Ethnic groups
Black ethnic groups make up 98.5% of the population. The majority people, the ShonaShona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
, comprise 50%. Included among the Shona are about 2 million descendants of migrant workers from Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. Also incorrectly included are the Shangaan found in Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts-they originated from South Africa in the 19th Century and were led by Soshangane.The Shangaan in Manicaland bear names like Mhlanga, Mlambo,Maphosa, Dhlamini, Dhliwayo, Hlathwayo,Sithole, Zabanyana, Mzilikazi, Makanza, Mauchaza, Muchakazi, etc. The Ndebele
Ndebele people (Zimbabwe)
The Ndebele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shaka's army....
are approximately 10% of the population as some so-called Ndebeles have no relationship with the Ndebeles whatsoever. The Ndebele are descended from Zulu migrations in the nineteenth century.The balance comprises the Kalanga, Nambya, Tonga, Venda and Suthu. The national prominence of Ndebele and Shona is due to the Education Act which prescribed these two languages for the school carricullum for both primary and secondary education. However, Kalanga and Nambya are dialectically the same as Karanga, a Shona dialect. Support for the opposition is particularly strong among the non-Shona, but is by no means confined to it. Up to three million Zimbabweans have left the country over the last five years, mainly for South Africa.
Other less populous Zimbabwean ethnic groups include white Zimbabweans
Whites in Zimbabwe
White Zimbabweans are people from the southern African country Zimbabwe who identify themselves as white...
, mostly of British origin (95%), but some are of Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
, Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
and Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
origin as well, who make up approximately 0.5% of the total population. (It is currently extremely hard to keep track of the current trends of the white population. As the last census is almost certainly inaccurate, the figure could be as high as 1.5% of the total population or as low as 0.01% of the total population.) Because of the economic climate in Zimbabwe, many whites had to make a quick escape and therefore many businesses and properties are still in the hands of white Zimbabwean citizens living abroad. It is possible that any long term change in Zimbabwe's economic and political situation may bring many white Zimbabweans home. The white population dropped from a peak of around 280,000-300,000 in 1975-1979 to about 70,000 in the mid 1990s. The 2001 census put the white population at around 50,000 although this is probably an understatement because of domicile issues. Most white emigration has been to the UK, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Before the economic and political crisis began in the late 1990s, there were 50,000 Mixed race
Coloured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
citizens as well as various Asian ethnic groups (40,000), mostly of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n and Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
origin. They have played an influential role in the economic sector. However, both the mixed-race and Asian ethnic groups have dwindled (now each less than 0.01% of the population) as most of these people have fled Zimbabwe along with most whites and three to four million black Zimbabweans. In fact it has been estimated that one-quarter to one-third of Zimbabweans have fled en masse mostly to South Africa and neighboring countries as well as overseas to Britain as Zimbabwe's economy has imploded over the last ten years.
Health
According to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, the life expectancy for men is 37 years and the life expectancy for women is 34 years of age, the lowest in the world in 2006. An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.
Zimbabwe has a very high HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infection rate. In 2001 it was measured at its highest level ever of 33.7% for people aged 15–49.
Languages
EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is the official language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
of Zimbabwe, though less than 2.5%, mainly the white and Coloured
Coloured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
(mixed race) minorities, consider it their native language. The rest of the population speak Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
(50%) and Ndebele
Northern Ndebele language
The Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
(10%) Kalanga (25%), etc. Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo
Solomon Mutswairo
Solomon Mangwiro Mutswairo also spelt Mutsvairo, is a Zimbabwean novelist and poet. A member of the Zezuru people of central Zimbabwe, Mutswairo wrote the first novel in the Shona language, Feso....
, published in 1956. English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas. Television news is broadcasted in English,but radio broadcasts in English, Ndebele, Shona, Kalanga, Nambya, Venda, Suthu and Tonga. English, Ndebele and Shona are given far more airtime.
Religions
Sixty two percent of Zimbabweans attend ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
churches. The largest Christian churches are Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Methodist. However like most former European colonies
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
, Christianity is often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. Besides Christianity, ancestral worship (Amadlozi) is the most practiced non-Christian religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
which involves ancestor worship and spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
intercession. Under 1% of the population is Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, although many Zimbabweans are influenced by Islamic food laws.
Refugee crisis
The economic meltdown and repressive political measures in Zimbabwe has led to a flood of refugees into neighboring countries. An estimated 3.4 million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population, had fled abroad by mid 2007. Some 3 million of these have gone to South Africa.Aside from those who fled into the neighbouring countries, an estimated 570,000 people are displaced within the borders of the country, many of whom remain in transit camps and have limited access to assistance. Most of the displaced have been victims of the Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 and continuing evictions and violent farm seizures. Their plight is virtually impossible to assess, as there has been no national survey of people displaced since 2005.
Demographic statistics from the CIA World Factbook
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.Population
| Year | Population (July est.) |
Growth rate (est.) |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 12,084,304 | 4.31% | ||||||||||
| 2010 | 11,651,858 | 2.28% | ||||||||||
| 2009 | 11,392,629 | 0.38% | ||||||||||
| 2008 | 11,350,111 | -7.81% | ||||||||||
| 2007 | 12,311,143 | 0.61% | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 12,236,805 | -4.00% | ||||||||||
| 2005 | 12,746,990 | 0.59% | ||||||||||
| 2004 | 12,671,860 | 0.76% | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 12,576,742 | N/A | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 11,342,525 | N/A | ||||||||||
Birth / Death / Migration Rates
| Year | Birth rate (est.): births/1000 pop. |
Death rate (est.): deaths/1000 pop. |
Net migration rate * ** (est.): migrants/1000 pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 31.57 | 14.9 | 0* |
| 2009 | 31.49 | 16.19 | 0* |
| 2008 | 31.62 | 17.29 | N/A* |
| 2007 | 27.7 | 22.7 | 0* |
| 2006 | 28.01 | 21.84 | 0* |
| 2005 | 29.74 | 24.66 | 0* |
| 2004 | 30.05 | 23.3 | "negligible" |
| 2003 | 30.34 | 25.02 | N/A |
| 2000 | 25 | 22.43 | N/A |
| * There is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... and Botswana Botswana Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966... in search of better economic opportunities. |
|||
Age structure
| Year | 0–14 years: (male) |
0–14 years: (female) |
0–14 years: (% total) |
15–64 years (male): |
15–64 years (female): |
15–64 years (% total): |
65 years & over (male): |
65 years & over (female): |
65 years & over (% total): |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,535,827 | 2,485,825 | 43.1% | 2,809,979 | 3,368,181 | 53% | 193,816 | 258,230 | 3.9% |
| 2009 | 2,523,119 | 2,473,928 | 43.9% | 2,666,928 | 3,283,474 | 52.2% | 194,360 | 250,820 | 3.9% |
| 2008 | 2,514,135 | 2,465,715 | 43.9% | 2,671,164 | 3,260,457 | 52.3% | 194,854 | 243,786 | 3.9% |
| 2007 | 2,308,731 | 2,266,027 | 37.2% | 3,663,108 | 3,641,519 | 59.3% | 198,867 | 232,891 | 3.5% |
| 2006 | 2,307,170 | 2,265,298 | 37.4% | 3,616,528 | 3,621,190 | 59.1% | 199,468 | 227,151 | 3.5% |
| 2005 | 2,522,609 | 2,474,131 | 39.2% | 3,686,354 | 3,592,662 | 57.1% | 235,478 | 235,756 | 3.7% |
| 2004 | 2,520,082 | 2,472,641 | 39.4% | 3,649,400 | 3,571,631 | 57% | 230,272 | 227,834 | 3.6% |
Population growth rate
- 2.954% (2010 est.)
- 0.59% (2007 est.)
- 0.83% (2003 est.)
- 0.26% (2000 est.)
Sex ratio
(2010 est.)- at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
- total population: 0.91 male(s)/female
(2003, 2000 est.)
- at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.), 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
- total population: 1.02 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate
(2010 est.)- total: 30.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- male: 33.44 deaths/1,000 live births
- female: 28.29 deaths/1,000 live births
(2003, 2000 est.)
- total: 66.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), 62.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
- female: 63.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
- male: 69.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
- 140,000 (2007 est.)
- 200,000 (2001 est.)
- 160,000 annually (1999 estimate).
Life expectancy at birth
(2010 est.)- total population: 47.55 years
- male: 47.98 years
- female: 47.11 years
(2003 est.)
- total population: 39.01 years
- male: 40.09 years
- female: 37.89 years
(2000 est.)
- total population: 37.78 years
- male: 39.18 years
- female: 36.34 years
Literacy
- definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
- total population: 90.7% (2003 est.), 85% (2000 est.)
- male: 94.2% (2003 est.), 90% (2000 est.)
- female: 87.2% (2003 est.), 80% (1995 est.)