Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 72.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.85 years
male: 41.91 years
female: 41.78 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.09 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean

Ethnic divisions: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%),
white 1%, mixed and Asian 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: age 15 and over can read and write in English (1995 est.)
total population: 85%
male: 90%
female: 80%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia

Data code: ZI

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Harare

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces and 2 cities* with
provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria),
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 and head of government: Executive President Robert
Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) was nominated by the House
of Assembly (if more than one nomination, electoral college of
members of the House of Assembly elect the president); election last
held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2002); results -
Robert MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA 4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%;
Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987);
Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990) was
appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; responsible to
Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections la