External balance on goods and services in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: External balance on goods and services was -44.35 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Zimbabwe, 1975–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Zimbabwe is -44.35 billion current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 983.7% on the previous year and down 4,436,360.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Zimbabwe peaked at 106,900 current LCU in 1999 and was at its lowest, -44.35 billion current LCU, in 2024.
That places Zimbabwe 127th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -29,192 current LCU | — |
| 1976 | 40,841 current LCU | -239.9% |
| 1977 | 20,566 current LCU | -49.6% |
| 1978 | 35,462 current LCU | +72.4% |
| 1979 | -17,843 current LCU | -150.3% |
| 1980 | -84,347 current LCU | +372.7% |
| 1981 | -207,767 current LCU | +146.3% |
| 1982 | -180,933 current LCU | -12.9% |
| 1983 | -94,180 current LCU | -47.9% |
| 1984 | -6,199 current LCU | -93.4% |
| 1985 | 4,464 current LCU | -172.0% |
| 1986 | 62,915 current LCU | +1309.4% |
| 1987 | 73,944 current LCU | +17.5% |
| 1988 | 105,721 current LCU | +43.0% |
| 1989 | 53,790 current LCU | -49.1% |
| 1990 | 2,617 current LCU | -95.1% |
| 1991 | -113,600 current LCU | -4441.2% |
| 1992 | -250,100 current LCU | +120.2% |
| 1993 | -45,400 current LCU | -81.8% |
| 1994 | -52,900 current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1995 | -76,400 current LCU | +44.4% |
| 1996 | 6,500 current LCU | -108.5% |
| 1997 | -239,500 current LCU | -3784.6% |
| 1998 | -44,200 current LCU | -81.5% |
| 1999 | 106,900 current LCU | -341.9% |
| 2000 | 60,300 current LCU | -43.6% |
| 2001 | 54,800 current LCU | -9.1% |
| 2002 | -79,700 current LCU | -245.4% |
| 2003 | -129,700 current LCU | +62.7% |
| 2004 | -164,900 current LCU | +27.1% |
| 2005 | -206,100 current LCU | +25.0% |
| 2006 | -237,600 current LCU | +15.3% |
| 2007 | -182,200 current LCU | -23.3% |
| 2008 | -469,900 current LCU | +157.9% |
| 2009 | -882,900 current LCU | +87.9% |
| 2010 | -1.15 million current LCU | +30.1% |
| 2011 | -1.12 million current LCU | -2.4% |
| 2012 | -1.63 million current LCU | +45.6% |
| 2013 | -1.12 million current LCU | -31.3% |
| 2014 | -999,600 current LCU | -10.9% |
| 2015 | -1.47 million current LCU | +47.3% |
| 2016 | -931,900 current LCU | -36.7% |
| 2017 | -1.46 million current LCU | +57.0% |
| 2018 | -619,100 current LCU | -57.7% |
| 2019 | -583,900 current LCU | -5.7% |
| 2020 | -15.05 million current LCU | +2477.3% |
| 2021 | -67.62 million current LCU | +349.3% |
| 2022 | -448.50 million current LCU | +563.3% |
| 2023 | -4.09 billion current LCU | +812.4% |
| 2024 | -44.35 billion current LCU | +983.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's -44.35 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 78% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's -44.35 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 65% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services 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 | -4441.2% | 2,617 current LCU | -113,600 current LCU |
| 1997 | -3784.6% | 6,500 current LCU | -239,500 current LCU |
| 2020 | -2477.3% | -583,900 current LCU | -15.05 million current LCU |
| 1986 | +1309.4% | 4,464 current LCU | 62,915 current LCU |
| 2024 | -983.7% | -4.09 billion current LCU | -44.35 billion current LCU |
| 2023 | -812.4% | -448.50 million current LCU | -4.09 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9,967 current LCU | -29,192 current LCU | 40,841 current LCU | 5 |
| 1980s | -27,259 current LCU | -207,767 current LCU | 105,721 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -70,608 current LCU | -250,100 current LCU | 106,900 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -223,790 current LCU | -882,900 current LCU | 60,300 current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.11 million current LCU | -1.63 million current LCU | -583,900 current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -9.79 billion current LCU | -44.35 billion current LCU | -15.05 million current LCU | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 131.30 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0032 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 7.89 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 465.43 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -22.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0112 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 27.98 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 319.78 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Zimbabwe?
- External balance on goods and services in Zimbabwe was -44.35 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 106,900 current LCU in 1999.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was -44.35 billion current LCU in 2024.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Zimbabwe ranks 127th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4,436,360.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.