Demographics of Zimbabwe

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.

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.^[1][2] 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.^[3]

Ethnic groups

Black ethnic groups make up 98.5% of the population. The majority people, the Shona, 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.^[4] 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%)^{[citation needed]}, 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 Indian 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.

Health

See also: HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe

According to the United Nations 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.^[5] An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.^[6] 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.

Languages

English 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.^[7] Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo, published in 1956.^[8] 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

Main article: Religion in Zimbabwe

Sixty two percent of Zimbabweans attend Christian churches.^[9] 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.

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.^[10] Some 3 million of these have gone to South Africa.^[11]

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.^[12]

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 and Botswana 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.)

Percentage of population malnourished

45 percent

AIDS adult prevalence rate

15.3% (2007 est.)

33.7% (2001 est.)

25% (1999 estimate).

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.3 million(2007 est.)

2.3 million (2001 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

Total Fertility Rate

• 3.66 children born/woman (2010 est.)

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.)

Nationality

• noun: Zimbabwean(s)
• adjective: Zimbabwean

See also

Zimbabwe

References

1. ^ Statesman's Yearbook 2007, Palgrave Macmillan, New York
2. ^ CIA Factbook 2007, CIA Publications, Washington D.C.
3. ^ Article from The Independent
4. ^ "The People of Zimbabwe". http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/post/zimbabwe/zpeople.html. Retrieved 2007-11-13. 
5. ^ The World Health Organization. "Annex Table 1 - Basic indicators for all Member States" (PDF). The World Health Report 2006. http://www.who.int/entity/whr/2006/annex/06_annex1_en.pdf. 
6. ^ Peta Thornycroft (2006-04-10). "In Zimbabwe, life ends before 40". Harare: Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/in-zimbabwe-life-ends-before-40/2006/04/09/1144521210993.html. Retrieved 2006-04-10. 
7. ^ ,.Zimbabwe GAP Adventures
8. ^ Mother Tongue: Interviews with Musaemura B. Zimunya and Solomon Mutswairo University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
9. ^ "MSN Encarta". Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwbJgfBy. Retrieved 2007-11-13. 
10. ^ Refugees flood from Zimbabwe The Observer
11. ^ Zimbabwean refugees suffer in Botswana and South Africa Sokwanele Civic Action Group
12. ^ Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), Internal displacement in Zimbabwe

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2007 edition".