🇿🇼 Republic of Zimbabwe
Visiting: High Risk
Visiting Zimbabwe means accepting real risks. Same-sex relationships are criminalised, which places it 122nd for LGBT rights, so LGBT travellers should weigh this carefully. Beyond that, there is some exposure to conflict, ranking 91st, though violent crime is common, at 127th. Where it lags is the roads, which are among the deadliest anywhere, placed 175th.
Homicide
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Zimbabwe: 6.8
Ranked 54th in the world for the highest homicide rate.
Why this rank?
Nearly seven killings per 100,000 people a year is above the world average, which is where the risky tier begins.
Is it safe to visit?
Take care. Zimbabwe's own 2022 count is 1,086 killings, a rate above the world average.
Road Fatalities
Road-traffic deaths per 100,000 people per year — lower is better.
Zimbabwe: 29.9
Ranked 6th in the world for the deadliest roads.
Why this rank?
Thirty deaths per 100,000 people a year is a whisker under double the world average of fifteen.
Is it safe to visit?
Not safe, for drivers, riders, cyclists and walkers alike.
Conflict
Conflict deaths inside the country in the last twelve months, as recorded by the Uppsala conflict database, civilians killed on purpose, and any UN sanctions or court order over a war. The worst of those sets the colour. Lower is better.
Zimbabwe: 1.72
Ranked 90th most conflict-affected country in the world.
Why this rank?
No conflict death is recorded in Zimbabwe in the last five years. The last one the Uppsala conflict database has was in September 2020.
Is it safe to visit?
Safe. Nothing armed reaches a visitor anywhere in the country.
Freedom
Six freedoms rated 0–4 by Freedom House — protest, speech, press, religion, movement and due process. The weakest rating sets the colour, and the total places the country inside it — higher is better.
Zimbabwe: 2.73
Ranked 33rd least free country in the world.
Why this rank?
In Zimbabwe due process is rated 0, meaning absent, so the courts offer no protection if anything goes wrong. Total 8 of 24.
Is it safe to visit?
Courts offer no protection. The ruling party has held power since 1980 through severe crackdowns on opposition and critical media, and the rule of law is weak. Avoid anything political.
LGBT Rights
LGBT equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Zimbabwe: Illegal
Ranked 59th least equal in the world for LGBT people.
Why this rank?
Male same-sex acts are criminal, up to a year or fines, and the constitution bans same-sex marriage. Any criminal law is red.
Is it safe to visit?
Not safe to be open. Decades of presidential hate speech shaped hostile attitudes, yet an advocacy group has operated openly since 1990.
Women's Safety
Women's safety — feeling safe out at night, political violence against women, a fair hearing in court, and how normal violence at home is, with the night figure setting a floor on the colour — higher is better.
Zimbabwe: 6.40
Ranked 49th least safe country in the world for women.
Why this rank?
Only a third of women feel safe out alone at night, and partner violence in the past year is eighteen percent. The courts rate below fair, and a few attacks on women were recorded.
Is it safe to visit?
A woman travelling alone should take care when visiting Zimbabwe.