Imports of goods and services in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Imports of goods and services was 23.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Zimbabwe, 1975–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 23.4% for imports of goods and services in 2024.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Zimbabwe peaked at 68.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 166th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 24.4% | — |
| 1976 | 19.6% | -19.8% |
| 1977 | 20.2% | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 20.0% | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 22.7% | +13.4% |
| 1980 | 26.5% | +17.0% |
| 1981 | 25.9% | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 22.2% | -14.2% |
| 1983 | 19.5% | -12.4% |
| 1984 | 20.8% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 22.0% | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 21.5% | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 21.3% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 20.4% | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 21.7% | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 22.8% | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 27.2% | +19.2% |
| 1992 | 36.5% | +34.3% |
| 1993 | 32.4% | -11.1% |
| 1994 | 36.5% | +12.5% |
| 1995 | 40.9% | +12.1% |
| 1996 | 35.9% | -12.2% |
| 1997 | 44.6% | +24.1% |
| 1998 | 45.1% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 33.5% | -25.7% |
| 2000 | 35.9% | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 32.9% | -8.3% |
| 2002 | 35.0% | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 41.6% | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 42.5% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 46.9% | +10.3% |
| 2007 | 46.4% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 68.1% | +46.7% |
| 2009 | 42.3% | -37.8% |
| 2010 | 53.5% | +26.4% |
| 2011 | 54.7% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 49.0% | -10.4% |
| 2013 | 36.7% | -25.2% |
| 2014 | 33.7% | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 37.6% | +11.4% |
| 2016 | 31.3% | -16.8% |
| 2017 | 30.4% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 28.4% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | -34.9% |
| 2020 | 16.8% | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 19.3% | +14.6% |
| 2022 | 24.8% | +28.8% |
| 2023 | 23.2% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 23.4% | +1.2% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 23.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 56% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 23.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 78% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.4% | 19.6% | 24.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 22.2% | 19.5% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.6% | 22.8% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.0% | 32.9% | 68.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 18.5% | 54.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.5% | 16.8% | 24.8% | 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)
- 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 imports of goods and services in Zimbabwe?
- Imports of goods and services in Zimbabwe was 23.4% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 68.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for imports of goods and services?
- Zimbabwe ranks 166th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.