Poverty and living standards in Midlands, Zimbabwe: official figures
73.8% of people in Midlands lived below the total consumption poverty line in 2017, ZIMSTAT's latest provincial poverty measurement (PICES 2017), 3rd lowest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 70.5%).
How many people in Midlands cannot afford enough food?
30.2% of people in Midlands were extremely poor in 2017, unable to afford the minimum food basket, 5th highest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 29.3%); 63.0% of households were poor (Zimbabwe: 60.6%).
Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) · saved copyHow wealthy are households in Midlands?
30.9% of people in Midlands were in the poorest fifth of Zimbabwe's households by wealth (assets and housing) in the 2023-24 Demographic and Health Survey, 3rd highest of the 10 provinces (20% nationally by definition).
Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow common is domestic violence in Midlands?
38.9% of women in Midlands who had ever had a husband or partner had suffered emotional, physical or sexual violence from their current or most recent husband or partner, according to the 2023-24 survey, 3rd highest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 33.5%).
Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- Wealth inequality within Midlands measured a Gini coefficient of 0.41 in 2023-24 (0 is equal, 1 totally unequal), 2nd most unequal of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 0.35). Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copy
How Midlands compares with other provinces
People below the total consumption poverty line (2017)
Midlands ranks 8 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the total consumption poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mashonaland West | 78.7% |
| 5 | Matabeleland South | 76.9% |
| 6 | Mashonaland East | 75.8% |
| 7 | Masvingo | 75.0% |
| 8 | Midlands | 73.8% |
| 9 | Harare | 37.3% |
| 10 | Bulawayo | 29.9% |
More on Midlands: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Zimbabwe
Sources
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program): Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2023-24: Final Report (province rows of the tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a74a171032f…)
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT): Zimbabwe Poverty Report 2017 (PICES 2017), Tables 2.7 and 2.8: poverty by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2aeb02bbf4c7…)
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