Merchandise imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Merchandise imports from high-income economies was 8.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe is 8.7%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 10.5% on the previous year and down 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe peaked at 74.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2022.
Zimbabwe ranks 203rd of 206 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 62.3% | — |
| 1965 | 64.1% | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 72.7% | +13.6% |
| 1981 | 57.7% | -20.7% |
| 1982 | 64.2% | +11.2% |
| 1983 | 58.0% | -9.6% |
| 1984 | 62.6% | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 62.9% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 63.3% | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 63.0% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 74.9% | +18.9% |
| 1989 | 59.4% | -20.7% |
| 1990 | 57.0% | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 62.1% | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 54.2% | -12.8% |
| 1993 | 57.0% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 55.2% | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 47.2% | -14.5% |
| 1996 | 45.9% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 44.4% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 48.7% | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 42.9% | -11.8% |
| 2000 | 28.6% | -33.4% |
| 2001 | 27.3% | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 24.1% | -11.8% |
| 2003 | 20.2% | -16.0% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 13.8% | -24.6% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 15.1% | +22.8% |
| 2008 | 12.1% | -20.0% |
| 2009 | 11.6% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 12.4% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 11.6% | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 11.3% | +19.3% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 10.1% | -15.4% |
| 2020 | 9.5% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 8.8% | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -10.6% |
| 2023 | 8.7% | +10.5% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 8.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.4%, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 8.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 42.2%, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 66.4% | 62.3% | 72.7% | 3 |
| 1980s | 62.9% | 57.7% | 74.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 51.5% | 42.9% | 62.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 11.6% | 28.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.4% | 9.4% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 7.9% | 9.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
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 imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe?
- Merchandise imports from high-income economies in Zimbabwe was 8.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from high-income economies recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 74.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from high-income economies recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2022.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for merchandise imports from high-income economies?
- Zimbabwe ranks 203rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from high-income economies rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.8%. 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 imports from high-income economies (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from high-income economies are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from high-income economies according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.