9.74 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 37.82 years
male: 38.63 years
female: 36.99 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.6 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
33.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.3 million (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
200,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis
overall degree of risk: high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean

Ethnic groups:
African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%,
white less than 1%

Religions:
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian
25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Languages:
English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele,
sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)

Government Zimbabwe

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Harare

Administrative divisions:
8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*,
Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East,
Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South,
Midlands

Independence:
18 April 1980 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Constitution:
21 December 1979

Legal system:
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
December 1987); Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004;
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since
31 December 1987); Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December
2004; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
House of Assembly
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper
signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one