Photo: Digr · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Zimbabwe: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Zimbabwe is placed 155th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 50.26 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 19.02 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
155th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Zimbabwe on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Zimbabwe’s is from 2019 · CC BY 4.0
50.26
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Zimbabwe: 50.26. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 31.14 Ethiopia
- Land neighbours
- Botswana 54.91 · Mozambique 49.56 · South Africa 54.05 · Zambia 51.48
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Zimbabwe’s is from 2019 · CC BY 4.0
19.02
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Zimbabwe: 19.02. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.09 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Botswana 6.49 · Mozambique 44.72 · South Africa 5.1 · Zambia 39.76
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2025 figure for Zimbabwe, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 17.8 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Botswana 59.9 · Mozambique 91.3 · South Africa 57.9 · Zambia 86.2
02Over time
Which way Zimbabwe is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
ZimbabweWorld median
Zimbabwe rose from 43.15 in 2011 to 50.26 in 2019; the world median went from 33.95 to 33.51.
Every year’s figures
Year Zimbabwe World median 2023 — 33.72 2022 — 33.91 2021 — 34.04 2020 — 34.18 2019 50 33.51 2018 — 35.25 2017 44 34.86 2016 — 34.47 2015 — 35.52 2014 — 34.79 2013 — 36.16 2012 — 35.40 2011 43 33.96 2010 — 33.71 2009 — 34.91 2008 — 34.60 2007 — 34.26 2006 — 35.63 2005 — 36.28 2004 — 34.29 2003 — 35.46 2002 — 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
ZimbabweWorld median
Zimbabwe rose from 11.32 in 2011 to 19.02 in 2019; the world median went from 0.43 to 0.38.
Every year’s figures
Year Zimbabwe World median 2023 — 0.345 2022 — 0.420 2021 — 0.335 2020 — 0.280 2019 19 0.380 2018 — 0.460 2017 15 0.300 2016 — 0.440 2015 — 0.500 2014 — 0.635 2013 — 0.515 2012 — 0.640 2011 11 0.430 2010 — 0.530 2009 — 0.600 2008 — 0.350 2007 — 0.360 2006 — 0.465 2005 — 1.250 2004 — 0.790 2003 — 1.650 2002 — 3.010
03In context
Zimbabwe beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Zimbabwe and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa | 145th | 54.05 | 5.1 | 57.9 |
 Botswana | 147th | 54.91 | 6.49 | 59.9 |
| Zimbabwe | 155th | 50.26 | 19.02 | — |
 Zambia | 158th | 51.48 | 39.76 | 86.2 |
 Mozambique | 159th | 49.56 | 44.72 | 91.3 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Zimbabwe in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Zimbabwe is ahead of the world, and behind
15 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median1
Statistics on which Zimbabwe does better than the middle country measured.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6522.718.65No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 22.7 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Behind the world median12
Statistics on which Zimbabwe does worse than the middle country measured.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.4640.413▼ Worsened since 2013
Zimbabwe: 0.464 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 74th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.110.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Zimbabwe: 0.11 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2625.0621.26No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 25.06 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 44th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.280.25▲ Improved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 0.28 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.220.529No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 0.22 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0529.9317.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Zimbabwe: 29.93 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 42nd of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.4060.609▼ Worsened since 2013
Zimbabwe: 0.406 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 130th of 169 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,8003,22812,800No real change since 2017
Zimbabwe: 3,228 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 146th of 173 · derived.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88541.944.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Zimbabwe: 41.94 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.25250.754.252No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 50.75 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 23rd of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.970.120.9▲ Improved since 2015
Zimbabwe: 70.1 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 13th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.147.922.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Zimbabwe: 47.92 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.838.321.8No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 38.3 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8811.826.88No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 11.82 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
No current reading for Zimbabwe
Cost of a Healthy Diet, Gini Index (last 2019), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2019), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2023), Income Growth of the Poorest 40% (last 2021), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2019), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2019), Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Low Pay Rate (last 2023), Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person (last 2019), Palma Ratio (last 2019), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Prosperity Gap (last 2019), Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet and Societal Poverty Rate (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Zimbabwe’s 16 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Zimbabwe’s 16th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Gender & Equality86th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy89th of 1653/3 keys
- Work & Labour102nd of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology138th of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability130th of 1864/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 126th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience144th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation143rd of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital161st of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions162nd of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties167th of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing181st of 2004/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade168th of 1772/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 176th of 1843/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 190th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality155th of 1592/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Zimbabwe can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Tunisia43rd3/3 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Mauritius61st3/3 keysThis page
Zimbabwe155th2/3 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Zimbabwe on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Zimbabwe rank on poverty & inequality?
Zimbabwe is placed 155th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index and Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Zimbabwe?
50.26 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Zimbabwe?
19.02 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Zimbabwe compare with South Africa on poverty & inequality?
South Africa is placed 145th of 159, and Zimbabwe 155th. Gini Index: South Africa 54.05, Zimbabwe 50.26; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: South Africa 5.1, Zimbabwe 19.02.
How have Zimbabwe’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index rose from 43.15 in 2011 to 50.26 in 2019; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day rose from 11.32 in 2011 to 19.02 in 2019.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Zimbabwe?
No current reading is published for Zimbabwe on Cost of a Healthy Diet, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Income Growth of the Poorest 40%, Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Low Pay Rate, Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person, Palma Ratio, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet and Societal Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 15 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Zimbabwe’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Zimbabwe (banner) — Digr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Zimbabwe: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/zimbabwe/poverty