Country
Countries A-Z
Zimbabwe
Republic of Zimbabwe
Political Status: Became self-governing British Colony of Southern Rhodesia in October 1923; unilaterally declared independence November 11, 1965; white-dominated republican regime proclaimed March 2, 1970; biracial executive established on basis of transitional government agreement of March 3, 1978; returned to interim British rule on basis of cease-fire agreement signed December 21, 1979; achieved de jure independence as Republic of Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980.
Area: 150,803 sq. mi. (390,580 sq. km).
Population: 13,099,108 (2012E—UN); 12,619,600 (2012E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Center (including suburbs, 2005E): HARARE (formerly Salisbury, 1,527,000).
Official Language: English (Shona and Sindebele are the principal African languages).
Monetary Unit: Zimbabwe Dollar (official rate November 5, 2012: 361.90 dollars = $1US.). Although the Zimbabwe dollar has an official exchange rate, the currency was suspended in 2009 because ...