External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -5.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Zimbabwe, 1975–2024
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Zimbabwe stood at -5.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.0% on the previous year and up 57.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Zimbabwe peaked at 3.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, -26.6%, in 2008.
Zimbabwe ranks 110th of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -1.7% | — |
| 1976 | 2.4% | -241.6% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | -50.2% |
| 1978 | 2.0% | +72.9% |
| 1979 | -0.9% | -142.3% |
| 1980 | -3.2% | +266.5% |
| 1981 | -6.5% | +105.4% |
| 1982 | -5.3% | -18.3% |
| 1983 | -3.0% | -42.7% |
| 1984 | -0.2% | -92.0% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -181.1% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | +1177.8% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +8.4% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | +23.3% |
| 1989 | 1.6% | -52.0% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -95.4% |
| 1991 | -3.3% | -4512.7% |
| 1992 | -9.3% | +181.8% |
| 1993 | -1.7% | -81.3% |
| 1994 | -1.9% | +11.0% |
| 1995 | -2.7% | +39.9% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -107.1% |
| 1997 | -7.0% | -3794.8% |
| 1998 | -1.7% | -75.4% |
| 1999 | 3.9% | -325.8% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | -42.2% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -10.3% |
| 2002 | -3.1% | -255.4% |
| 2003 | -5.7% | +80.2% |
| 2004 | -7.1% | +25.4% |
| 2005 | -8.9% | +26.1% |
| 2006 | -10.9% | +21.9% |
| 2007 | -8.6% | -21.1% |
| 2008 | -26.6% | +209.1% |
| 2009 | -22.8% | -14.2% |
| 2010 | -23.8% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | -19.9% | -16.7% |
| 2012 | -23.8% | +20.0% |
| 2013 | -14.7% | -38.4% |
| 2014 | -12.8% | -12.7% |
| 2015 | -18.4% | +43.8% |
| 2016 | -11.3% | -38.5% |
| 2017 | -5.7% | -49.6% |
| 2018 | -2.2% | -61.1% |
| 2019 | -0.5% | -79.7% |
| 2020 | -1.8% | +307.6% |
| 2021 | -3.6% | +98.4% |
| 2022 | -6.1% | +66.9% |
| 2023 | -6.1% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | -5.4% | -11.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's -5.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.2%, 59% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's -5.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%, 78% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -4512.7% | 0.1% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | -3794.8% | 0.2% | -7.0% |
| 1986 | +1177.8% | 0.2% | 2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | -1.7% | 2.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | -0.8% | -6.5% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.3% | -9.3% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -8.9% | -26.6% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -13.3% | -23.8% | -0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.6% | -6.1% | -1.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More economy & growth data for Zimbabwe
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.02 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 139.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.1973 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 128.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0189 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Zimbabwe?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Zimbabwe was -5.4% in 2024, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was -26.6% in 2008.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Zimbabwe ranks 110th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.