External debt stocks in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: External debt stocks was 33.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Zimbabwe, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks in Zimbabwe stood at 33.0%.
The figure is down 21.1% on the previous year and down 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Zimbabwe peaked at 389.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1976.
Zimbabwe ranks 86th of 121 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 debt stocks in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13.3% | — |
| 1971 | 12.0% | -9.5% |
| 1972 | 8.9% | -25.8% |
| 1973 | 7.1% | -20.4% |
| 1974 | 6.0% | -16.0% |
| 1975 | 4.7% | -21.1% |
| 1976 | 3.7% | -20.6% |
| 1977 | 5.1% | +37.4% |
| 1978 | 11.2% | +118.7% |
| 1979 | 12.0% | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 13.7% | +14.7% |
| 1981 | 17.6% | +27.8% |
| 1982 | 26.5% | +50.7% |
| 1983 | 33.9% | +28.1% |
| 1984 | 39.4% | +16.1% |
| 1985 | 50.4% | +27.9% |
| 1986 | 52.6% | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 54.5% | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 43.6% | -20.0% |
| 1989 | 41.3% | -5.2% |
| 1990 | 47.2% | +14.3% |
| 1991 | 52.6% | +11.5% |
| 1992 | 84.3% | +60.3% |
| 1993 | 86.9% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 91.6% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 101.4% | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 78.1% | -22.9% |
| 1997 | 83.9% | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 119.5% | +42.5% |
| 1999 | 96.8% | -19.0% |
| 2000 | 90.9% | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 81.8% | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 90.3% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 111.6% | +23.7% |
| 2004 | 130.4% | +16.8% |
| 2005 | 118.1% | -9.4% |
| 2006 | 151.8% | +28.5% |
| 2007 | 200.7% | +32.2% |
| 2008 | 389.1% | +93.9% |
| 2009 | 69.3% | -82.2% |
| 2010 | 61.7% | -11.0% |
| 2011 | 58.2% | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 56.6% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 48.0% | -15.1% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 51.5% | +10.1% |
| 2016 | 62.9% | +22.3% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | -58.4% |
| 2018 | 38.8% | +48.1% |
| 2019 | 49.6% | +27.9% |
| 2020 | 49.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 53.0% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 44.1% | -16.8% |
| 2023 | 41.8% | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 33.0% | -21.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.4% | 3.7% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.3% | 13.7% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 84.2% | 47.2% | 119.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 143.4% | 69.3% | 389.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.0% | 26.2% | 62.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.3% | 33.0% | 53.0% | 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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 7.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1418 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 428.32 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 7.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 0.5046 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 1,525 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 17.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4817 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Zimbabwe?
- External debt stocks in Zimbabwe was 33.0% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 389.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1976.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for external debt stocks?
- Zimbabwe ranks 86th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt stocks to gross national income. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.