Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) was 20.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Zimbabwe, 1964–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Zimbabwe stood at 20.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.6% on the previous year and down 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Zimbabwe peaked at 130.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 1966.
Zimbabwe ranks 147th of 201 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.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 23.3% | — |
| 1965 | 26.1% | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 6.2% | -76.2% |
| 1981 | 15.3% | +146.2% |
| 1982 | 14.8% | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 12.0% | -19.0% |
| 1984 | 12.6% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 12.7% | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 13.7% | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 13.6% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 8.1% | -40.5% |
| 1989 | 14.7% | +81.4% |
| 1990 | 18.4% | +25.1% |
| 1991 | 20.9% | +13.7% |
| 1992 | 29.0% | +38.7% |
| 1993 | 24.0% | -17.2% |
| 1994 | 29.6% | +23.3% |
| 1995 | 35.0% | +18.1% |
| 1996 | 31.3% | -10.5% |
| 1997 | 36.1% | +15.2% |
| 1998 | 38.8% | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 28.4% | -26.8% |
| 2000 | 38.2% | +34.7% |
| 2001 | 6.8% | -82.1% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 7.9% | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 62.9% | +699.7% |
| 2006 | 61.7% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 74.1% | +20.1% |
| 2008 | 130.1% | +75.6% |
| 2009 | 52.5% | -59.7% |
| 2010 | 55.6% | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 53.5% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 44.4% | -17.0% |
| 2013 | 39.5% | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 37.2% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 31.6% | -15.2% |
| 2016 | 30.8% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | -57.1% |
| 2018 | 21.4% | +61.9% |
| 2019 | 18.2% | -15.0% |
| 2020 | 21.9% | +20.5% |
| 2021 | 21.7% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 29.0% | +22.3% |
| 2024 | 23.9% | -17.5% |
| 2025 | 20.9% | -12.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 20.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.5%, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 20.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.0%, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +699.7% | 7.9% | 62.9% |
| 1981 | +146.2% | 6.2% | 15.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.5% | 6.2% | 26.1% | 3 |
| 1980s | 13.1% | 8.1% | 15.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 29.2% | 18.4% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.9% | 6.8% | 130.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.6% | 13.2% | 55.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.5% | 20.9% | 29.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 144 Kazakhstan 21.4% compare
- 145 San Marino 21.3% compare
- 146 Trinidad and Tobago 21.1% compare
- 148 United Kingdom 20.7% compare
- 149 Algeria 19.9% compare
- 150 Guam 19.9% compare
More economy & growth data for Zimbabwe
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -67.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Zimbabwe?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Zimbabwe was 20.9% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 130.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 1966.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Zimbabwe ranks 147th out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).