Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 21.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe is 21.3%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 99.6% on the previous year and up 2,324.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe peaked at 43.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2017.
That places Zimbabwe 64th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 1.0% | — |
| 1965 | 1.4% | +41.0% |
| 1966 | 0.4% | -69.1% |
| 1981 | 12.4% | +2802.4% |
| 1982 | 11.6% | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 8.0% | -30.7% |
| 1984 | 7.2% | -10.0% |
| 1985 | 9.1% | +26.3% |
| 1986 | 6.9% | -24.3% |
| 1987 | 8.1% | +17.8% |
| 1988 | 5.8% | -28.5% |
| 1989 | 4.9% | -15.8% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 6.6% | +34.8% |
| 1992 | 8.9% | +35.0% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 8.3% | -12.7% |
| 1995 | 8.9% | +7.3% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | +16.0% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | -27.0% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 13.3% | +84.6% |
| 2000 | 14.1% | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 15.2% | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | -55.3% |
| 2003 | 43.0% | +532.7% |
| 2004 | 15.1% | -64.8% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | -53.8% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | -33.5% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -24.1% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | +53.3% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +128.0% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -34.3% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -71.9% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -59.8% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -47.2% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -61.5% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -51.7% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +1255.6% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -89.9% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +168.0% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +1789.8% |
| 2022 | 10.7% | +89.5% |
| 2023 | 21.3% | +99.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 21.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.4%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 21.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +2802.4% | 0.4% | 12.4% |
| 2021 | +1789.8% | 0.3% | 5.6% |
| 2018 | +1255.6% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | +532.7% | 6.8% | 43.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.4% | 3 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 4.9% | 12.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 8.5% | 4.9% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.9% | 3.4% | 43.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 0.1% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.5% | 0.3% | 21.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 61 Kazakhstan 22.2% compare
- 62 Turkey 22.0% compare
- 63 South Africa 21.5% compare
- 65 Cuba 21.3% compare
- 66 North Korea 20.7% compare
- 67 Kenya 20.6% compare
More private sector data for Zimbabwe
- Merchandise trade 38.7% (2025)
- Food imports 19.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 58.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 10.11 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 21.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 6.7% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 9.71 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 572.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1895 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 30.61 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Zimbabwe was 21.3% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 43.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2017.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Zimbabwe ranks 64th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,324.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.