🇿🇼Zimbabwe Freedom Score: 27/100
Zimbabwe is rated "Not Free" by Freedom House with a score of 27 out of 100, based on the 2024 assessment of political rights and civil liberties.
Freedom House evaluates political rights and civil liberties in 195 countries and 15 territories, scoring each on a 0-100 scale.
Zimbabwe's population was estimated at 15,993,524 in 2021, with 99.6% of the population of African origin. The Shona make up 82% and the Ndebele 14% of the population, with English as the main language used in education and the judicial system. The country has 16 official languages, with Shona and Ndebele being the principal indigenous languages.
Freedom Score Breakdown
Zimbabwe scores 27 out of 100 on the Freedom House index, which is below average globally, indicating significant restrictions on political participation and personal freedoms. The country has a political rights rating of 6 out of 7 (severely restricted political rights) and a civil liberties rating of 5 out of 7 (limited civil liberties). On the Freedom House scale, 1 represents the most free and 7 the least free.
Freedom Assessment: Zimbabwe
Rated Not Free with a score of 27/100. Political rights rated 6/7 and civil liberties 5/7 (lower is better).
Freedom House classifies Zimbabwe as "Not Free" with an aggregate score of 27 out of 100, based on its 2024 assessment. This score reflects evaluations across 25 indicators covering electoral processes, political pluralism, government functioning, freedom of expression, associational and organizational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy.
On the political rights dimension, Zimbabwe received a rating of 6 on a 1-to-7 scale, indicating severely restricted political rights. This covers electoral processes, political pluralism and participation, and the functioning of government. Countries rated 1-2 on this scale generally hold competitive, free elections with meaningful opposition and independent legislatures.
On civil liberties, Zimbabwe received a 5 out of 7, indicating limited civil liberties. This dimension measures freedom of expression and belief, associational and organizational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights. Countries rated 1-2 tend to have independent judiciaries, free press, and strong protections for individual rights.
What This Means for Travelers
Travelers to Zimbabwe should be aware of significant restrictions on speech, press, assembly, and political participation. Expressing political opinions publicly or engaging with local activists carries risk. Monitor your embassy's guidance before and during travel.
For additional context, Zimbabwe currently holds a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State. Freedom ratings and travel advisories measure different things: the Freedom House score evaluates institutional protections for rights and liberties, while the State Department advisory addresses immediate physical safety concerns. A country can be rated "Free" but still carry a Level 2 or higher advisory due to crime, terrorism, or other localized risks.
Data on this page comes from Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization founded in 1941 that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights. Their annual "Freedom in the World" report has been published since 1973 and is widely used by policymakers, journalists, and academics.
AF Region: Freedom Comparison
How Zimbabwe compares to other countries in AF based on Freedom House scores. Higher scores indicate greater political freedom.
| Country | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 92/100 | Free |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 85/100 | Free |
| 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Principe | 84/100 | Free |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 79/100 | Free |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe(this country) | 27/100 | Not Free |
Showing top countries in AF with Freedom House data. View full global democracy rankings
Common Questions About Zimbabwe's Freedom Rating
What does a Freedom House score of 27 mean for Zimbabwe?▶
A score of 27 out of 100 places Zimbabwe in the "Not Free" category. Freedom House evaluates 25 indicators across political rights and civil liberties. Scores of 70-100 typically correspond to "Free," 40-69 to "Partly Free," and 0-39 to "Not Free." Zimbabwe's score of 27 is below average globally, indicating significant restrictions on political participation and personal freedoms.
Is Zimbabwe safe to travel to based on its freedom rating?▶
Freedom ratings and travel safety are related but measure different things. The freedom score assesses institutional protections for rights and liberties, not physical safety directly. Some countries rated "Free" may still have areas with elevated crime or natural disaster risk, while some "Not Free" countries can be physically safe for tourists. Zimbabwe currently has a Level 2 travel advisory. Check the Zimbabwe travel advisory page for safety-specific guidance.
What do the political rights and civil liberties ratings mean?▶
Freedom House rates political rights and civil liberties on a 1-to-7 scale, where 1 represents the most free and 7 the least free. Political rights cover electoral processes, political pluralism, and government functioning. Civil liberties cover freedom of expression, associational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy. Zimbabwe rates 6/7 on political rights and 5/7 on civil liberties.
How often is the Freedom House data updated?▶
Freedom House publishes its "Freedom in the World" report annually, typically in February or March. The 2024 assessment shown here reflects conditions observed during the prior calendar year. Our data is updated within days of each new report. Between annual reports, real-world conditions may shift, so always cross-reference with current news and your government's travel advisory.
How does Zimbabwe compare to other countries in AF?▶
Zimbabwe ranks #155 globally in our democracy ranking with a composite score of 22.7. Within AF, you can see how it compares in the regional table above. The composite democracy score weights Freedom House data at 70% and World Bank Voice and Accountability indicators at 30%. View the full global democracy rankings.
More Zimbabwe Data
Safety ratings, regional breakdown, and entry requirements.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.