Short-term debt in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Short-term debt was 48.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
48.0%
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
8th
of 119 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 2009
All-time low
2.7%
in 1978
Years of data
34
1977–2024

Short-term debt in Zimbabwe, 1977–2024

0204060801977200020241977: 4.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1978: 2.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1979: 2.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1980: 5.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1981: 23.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1982: 37 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1983: 35.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1984: 25.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1985: 21.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1986: 19 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1987: 15.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1988: 16.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1989: 20.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1990: 29.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1991: 28.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1992: 38 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1993: 29.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1994: 21 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2009: 88.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2010: 51.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2011: 42.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2012: 56.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2013: 66 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2014: 65.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2015: 77.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2016: 77.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2017: 80.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2018: 65.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2019: 66.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2020: 73.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2021: 56.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2022: 53.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2023: 51.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2024: 48 % of exports of goods, services and primary income

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.

Analysis

In 2024, short-term debt in Zimbabwe stood at 48.0%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 26.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, short-term debt in Zimbabwe peaked at 88.9% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1978.

Zimbabwe ranks 8th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Short-term debt in Zimbabwe, year by year

Annual values for Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income) in Zimbabwe, 1977 to 2024.
Year % of exports of goods, services and primary income Change
1977 4.6%
1978 2.7% -40.8%
1979 2.8% +5.0%
1980 5.3% +84.6%
1981 23.7% +351.3%
1982 37.0% +56.0%
1983 35.2% -4.9%
1984 25.2% -28.5%
1985 21.2% -15.7%
1986 19.0% -10.5%
1987 15.9% -16.4%
1988 16.1% +1.1%
1989 20.9% +30.3%
1990 29.1% +38.7%
1991 28.1% -3.1%
1992 38.0% +35.1%
1993 29.8% -21.6%
1994 21.0% -29.7%
2009 88.9% +323.7%
2010 51.7% -41.8%
2011 42.5% -17.9%
2012 56.6% +33.2%
2013 66.0% +16.7%
2014 65.2% -1.1%
2015 77.5% +18.7%
2016 77.3% -0.2%
2017 80.3% +3.8%
2018 65.5% -18.5%
2019 66.7% +2.0%
2020 73.1% +9.6%
2021 56.8% -22.3%
2022 53.3% -6.2%
2023 51.7% -2.9%
2024 48.0% -7.2%

Zimbabwe compared with similar countries

  • Zimbabwe's 48.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.3%, 3.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Zimbabwe's 48.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.1%, 5.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Short-term debt 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.

YearChange FromTo
1981 +351.3% 5.3% 23.7%
2009 +323.7% 21.0% 88.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.4% 2.7% 4.6% 3
1980s 22.0% 5.3% 37.0% 10
1990s 29.2% 21.0% 38.0% 5
2000s 88.9% 88.9% 88.9% 1
2010s 64.9% 42.5% 80.3% 10
2020s 56.6% 48.0% 73.1% 5

Countries ranked near Zimbabwe

  1. 5 Jordan 72.1% compare
  2. 6 Senegal 63.1% compare
  3. 7 Mauritius 57.1% compare
  4. 9 Argentina 47.1% compare
  5. 10 Turkey 46.4% compare
  6. 11 Egypt 46.3% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More economy & growth data for Zimbabwe

All data for Zimbabwe →

Frequently asked questions

What is short-term debt in Zimbabwe?
Short-term debt in Zimbabwe was 48.0% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Zimbabwe?
The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2009.
What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Zimbabwe?
The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1978.
How does Zimbabwe rank for short-term debt?
Zimbabwe ranks 8th out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
Is short-term debt rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.4%. 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 Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Short-term debt in Zimbabwe. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/short-term-debt-percent-of-exports-of-goods-services-and-primary-income/zimbabwe/

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About this data

Indicator
Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Unit
% of exports of goods, services and primary income
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 5,838 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Short-term external debt is defined as debt that has an original maturity of one year or less. Available data permit no distinction between public and private nonguaranteed short-term debt. Exports of goods, services and primary income is the sum of goods (merchandise) exports, exports of (nonfactor) services and income (factor) receipts.