Until the 2008 parliamentary elections, Zimbabwe was effectively a one-party state, ruled over by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. Mugabe has been accused of political repression, and of bringing the country to the brink of economic collapse, with rampant inflation and unemployment, fuel and food shortages, and poverty widespread. A power-sharing deal has raised hopes that Mugabe might be prepared to relinquish some of his powers. Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister in February 2009, following months of wrangling over a power-sharing agreement originally signed in September 2008. The country's official language is English, with Shona and Sindebele being widely spoken.

Leader: President Robert Mugabe, with Morgan Tsvangari as Prime Minister since February 2009,
Capital city: Harare

Economic profile

Monetary unit: Zimbabwe dollar
GDP per capita: $382,88 (2009) (IMF)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 18,2% (2008) (World Bank)
Industry: 22,6% (2008) (World Bank)
Services: 59,3% (2008) (World Bank)
GDP growth rate: -12,6% (2008) (IMF)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: 28,8% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Government expenditure: 39,1% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Consumer price inflation: 11,2 million% (2008) (IMF)
Industries: Mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, and beverages
Exports of goods and services: 16,6% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Imports of goods and services: 16,9% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Export commodities: Platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, and textiles/clothing
Import commodities: Not stated
Trade balance: 0,0% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Reserves: 1,2 months of imports (2007) (IMF)
Total investment: 17,5% of GDP (2008) (IMF)
Market capitalisation of listed companies: 530% (2006) (World Bank)

Social profile

Population: 11,39-million (2008) (World Bank)
Population growth: 1,53% (2008) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 46 years (2008) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 97,7% (2004) (UNStats)
School enrolment primary: 98,1% (2000) (World Bank)
School enrolment secondary: 42,3% (2000) (World Bank)
School enrolment tertiary: 3,6% (2000) (World Bank)
Unemployment: 80% (2005) (UNStats)
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 1,3-million (2007) (UNAids estimate)