Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Zimbabwe: trade and investment
Exports is 18.1% (2024), 153rd of 184 in the world and 32nd of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 23.4% (2024), 157th of 184 in the world and 34th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 41.5% (2024), 159th of 184 in the world and 32nd of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Zimbabwe in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 18.1%2024 | 153/184 | 32/43 | 38.2% | 29.6% | 15.0% | −2.9 ppsince 2014 | 27.9% | 23.2% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 23.4%2024 | 157/184 | 34/43 | 35.9% | 53.5% | 16.8% | −10.3 ppsince 2014 | 27.9% | 26.3% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 41.5%2024 | 159/184 | 32/43 | 74.1% | 83.1% | 31.8% | −13.2 ppsince 2014 | 55.7% | 46.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 1.2%2024 | 63/185 | 9/42 | · | -13.7% | 2.1% | +13.2 ppsince 2014 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $9.7bn2025 | 106/206 | 14/48 | $1.9bn | $3.2bn | $4.4bn | +199%since 2015 | $487bn | $1.1tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 2.8%2024 | 124/170 | 19/39 | · | 1.9% | 2.4% | +1.3 ppsince 2014 | 6.0% | 14.7% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 2.9%2024 | 90/172 | 13/39 | 0.9% | 1.8% | 1.1% | +1.7 ppsince 2014 | 40.9% | 24.8% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 21.6%2024 | 69/172 | 24/39 | 49.0% | 22.4% | 22.0% | −6.8 ppsince 2014 | 14.6% | 13.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 11.4%2021 | 28/184 | 16/45 | 11.6% | 16.6% | 11.4%2021 | +5.5 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 1.9%2025 | 107/197 | 26/46 | 0.3% | 1.0% | 0.5% | −0.1 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 8.5%2024 | 35/178 | 9/41 | · | 11.7% | 5.7% | −1.3 ppsince 2014 | 3.1% | 5.8% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 639,0002020 | 115/196 | 15/42 | 2.0m | 2.2m | 639,000 | −71%since 2010 | 56.0m | 208m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $66.0m2020 | 151/177 | 26/40 | $125m | $135m | $66.0m | −51%since 2010 | $34.9bn | $145bn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Zimbabwe and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Zimbabwe. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Zimbabwe | South Africa | Mozambique | Zambia | Botswana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 18.1%2024 | 31.4%2025 | 41.4%2025 | 35.0%2024 | 32.0%2025 |
| Imports | 23.4%2024 | 29.5%2025 | 55.7%2025 | 27.6%2024 | 37.5%2025 |
| Trade openness | 41.5%2024 | 60.9%2025 | 97.1%2025 | 62.5%2024 | 69.5%2025 |
| Current account | 1.2%2024 | -0.4%2025 | -14.2%2025 | -5.5%2025 | 2.9%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $9.7bn2025 | $116bn2025 | $8.1bn2025 | $13.3bn2025 | $5.1bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 2.8%2024 | 5.7%2024 | 3.6%2024 | 1.5%2024 | 0.5%2023 |
| Fuel exports | 2.9%2024 | 8.2%2025 | 54.2%2025 | 2.7%2024 | 0.7%2023 |
| Food exports | 21.6%2024 | 12.8%2025 | 12.4%2025 | 8.7%2024 | 1.9%2023 |
| Average tariff | 11.4%2021 | 4.7%2022 | 4.2%2021 | 4.1%2022 | 3.2%2022 |