Country Snapshot
Population (2019, millions)¹ | 14.64 |
Population Projections (2030, millions)¹ | 17.59 |
Economically active population in agriculture (as % of Economically active population)12, 2019 | 50 |
Capital | Harare |
Surface Area (km²)² | 390,760 |
Weather¹¹ | In Harare: Hottest months, October and November, 16-27°C; coldest months, June and July, 7-21°C (average daily minimum and maximum); driest month, July, 1 mm average rainfall; wettest month, January, 196 mm average rainfall |
Languages³ | Official: Shona, Ndebele, English, and minority official including Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa |
Main Religions³ | Main: Protestant (Apostolic, Pentecostal and other protestant), Roman Catholic, other Christian, Muslim, tradition, others and none |
Time⁴ | Central Africa Time (CAT) +0200 UTC |
Driving Orientation⁵ | Left Side |
Internet Country Code⁶ | .zw |
Country Calling Code | +263 |
Plug, Socket and Voltage⁷ | Type D and G - 220V/50Hz |
Currency | US Dollar (USD) - 1/100 = Cent |
Exchange Rate (As of 19 February 2019, per USD)⁸ | N/A |
GDP at Market Prices (2018, current, billions of USD)⁹ | 31 |
GDP Growth (2018, annual %)⁹ | 6.16 |
Average GDP Growth (2014-2018, annual %)⁹ | 3.15 |
GDP per Capita, PPP (2018, current international $)⁹ | 3,024 |
Inflation, Consumer Prices (2017, annual %)⁹ | 0.90 |
Average Inflation, Consumer Prices (2013-2017, annual %)⁹ | (0.32) |
Total Reserves in Months of Imports (2017)⁹ | 0.5 |
Sources:
¹United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
²COMESA Statistics, COMESTAT Data Hub.
³CIA World Factbook.
⁴Time and Date Portal.
⁵Chartsbin Portal, "Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country".
⁶Wikipedia, "List of Internet top-level domains"; and, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, Root Zone Database.
⁷International Electrotechnical Commission, World Plugs.
⁸Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
⁹ World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.
¹¹Economist Intelligence Unit.
12AFDB Socio Economic Database
Reasons to Invest in Zimbabwe
Population
Population Projections (millions)
Population (2019) | 14.64 |
Population Projections (2030) | 17.59 |
Source: United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Population Residing in Urban Areas (%)
Population Projections (2019) | 32.21 |
Percentage of Population Residing in Urban Areas (2030) | 34.23 |
Source: United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Youth Literacy Rates (2017, %)
Youth Literacy Rate, Population 15-24 Years, Both Sexes |
Youth Literacy Rate, Population 15-24 Years, Female |
Youth Literacy Rate, Population 15-24 Years, Male |
Source: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO Institute of Statistics.
Labour
Unemployment (2018, % of Total Labour Force)
Unemployment, Total | 4.91 |
Unemployment, Female | 5.42 |
Unemployment, Male | 4.42 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.
Labour Force (2018, % of Ages 15+)
Labour Force Participation Rate, Total | 83.54 |
Labour Force Participation Rate, Female | 78.56 |
Labour Force Participation Rate, Male | 88.99 |
Labour Force, Total (number) | 6,948,204 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.
Economy - Overview
GDP
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
GDP at Market Prices (current, billions of USD) | 19.49 | 19.96 | 20.54 | 22.81 | 31 |
GDP Growth (annual %) | 2.37 | 1.77 | 0.75 | 4.7 | 6.16 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.
Value Added by Sector (% of GDP)
Indicator | 2018 | 2019 |
Agriculture | 13.49 | 13.76 |
Manufacturing | 11.90 | 11.67 |
Industry | 29.86 | 29.52 |
Services | 75.64 | 75.72 |
Construction | 3.58 | 3.58 |
Electricity, gas and water | 4.53 | 4.56 |
Mining and quarrying | 9.86 | 9.71 |
Education | 14.85 | 15.10 |
Finance, real estate and business services | 12.37 | 11.92 |
Public administration and Defense | 12.49 | 12.67 |
Health and Social Work | 3.19 | 3.26 |
Other services | 3.84 | 3.82 |
Transport, storage and communication | 12.37 | 12.39 |
Wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants | 17.29 | 17.35 |
Source: AFDB Socio Economic Database.
Trade Profile
Import Partners (Imported Value, thousands, USD)
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
World | 6,415,988 | 6,045,862 | 5,322,157 | 5,165,089 | 6,468,767 |
South Africa | 2,754,270 | 2,326,521 | 2,176,772 | 2,042,230 | 2,523,514 |
Singapore | 1,168,028 | 1,338,413 | 1,118,087 | 1,105,362 | 1,359,314 |
China | 404,055 | 460,227 | 370,913 | 458,922 | 413,742 |
United Kingdom | 210,395 | 98,001 | 92,452 | 115,401 | 227,674 |
Japan | 155,110 | 129,911 | 100,569 | 124,669 | 217,078 |
Source: COMSTAT database
Export Partners (Exported Value, thousands, USD)
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
World | 3,871,574 | 3,410,659 | 3,341,151 | 3,483,611 | 4,037,945 |
South Africa | 2,016,338 | 2,060,870 | 2,265,839 | 2,154,109 | 2,073,131 |
United Arab Emirates | 96,056 | 147,837 | 116,683 | 222,944 | 731,911 |
Unspecified | 804,117 | 577,551 | 487,528 | 525,278 | 594,383 |
Mozambique | 574,122 | 408,254 | 266,409 | 363,538 | 384,465 |
Zambia | 95,070 | 86,491 | 69,585 | 56,928 | 63,176 |
Source: COMSTAT database
Zimbabwe’s Top Import Products (USD ‘000)
Chapter | Description | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
All products | 6,415,988 | 6,045,862 | 5,322,157 | 5,165,089 | 6,468,767 | |
27 | Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes | 1,567,430 | 1,581,847 | 1,502,883 | 1,501,012 | 1,870,363 |
84 | Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof | 489,204 | 481,289 | 408,651 | 520,387 | 666,058 |
87 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof | 545,847 | 460,054 | 342,863 | 350,519 | 603,818 |
31 | Fertilizers | 269,314 | 184,794 | 120,323 | 217,684 | 325,155 |
10 | Cereals | 331,649 | 409,879 | 517,921 | 361,764 | 269,708 |
Source: COMSTAT database
Zimbabwe’s Top Export Products (USD ‘000)
Chapter | Description | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
All products | 3,871,574 | 3,410,659 | 3,341,151 | 3,483,611 | 4,037,945 | |
71 | Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin | 1,102,188 | 940,877 | 1,023,718 | 1,019,732 | 1,347,399 |
24 | Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes | 843,265 | 907,606 | 927,177 | 838,795 | 893,113 |
75 | Nickel and articles thereof | 570,214 | 428,935 | 434,404 | 436,209 | 525,294 |
26 | Ores, slag and ash | 368,006 | 339,408 | 380,973 | 469,623 | 497,182 |
72 | Iron and steel | 283,582 | 176,746 | 123,958 | 282,049 | 251,778 |
Source: COMSTAT database
Investment Profile
FDI Inflows (millions of USD)
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
FDI Inflows | 545 | 421 | 372 | 349 | 745 |
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019
FDI Inward Stock (millions of USD)
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
FDI Inward Stock | 212 | 252 | 241 | 242 | 243 |
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019
FDI Outward Stock (millions of USD)
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
FDI Outflows | 72.0 | 22.0 | 28.8 | 42.2 | 26.8 |
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019
FDI Inward Stock (millions of USD)
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
FDI Inward Stock | 3,546 | 3,967 | 4,339 | 4,688 | 5,433 |
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019.
FDI Outward Stock (millions of USD)
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
FDI Outward Stock | 487 | 509 | 538 | 580 | 607 |
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019.
FDI Inflows Main Source Countries (in terms of number of projects)
South Africa, UK, China, Togo, Botswana, India, Canada, Netherlands, Russia, and Switzerland.
Source: Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018
Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018
Financial Services, Metals, Communications, Food & Tobacco, Coal, Oil and Natural Gas, Minerals, Renewable energy, Real Estate, Business Services, and Beverages.
Source: Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018
FDI Inflows Main Companies (in terms of number of projects)
Ecobank Zimbabwe, BancABC Zimbabwe, ZTS International Industrial (G-Tide), Choppies Zimbabwe, Old Mutual Zimbabwe, Telecel Zimbabwe, Lesaffre Zimbabwe, MBCA Bank, Ruschrome Mining, and deVere & Partners (deVere Group).
Source: Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018
Doing Business
Overall Doing Business Ranking
2020 | 140/190 |
2019 | 155/190 |
Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020
Starting a Business
2020 Rank | 167/190 |
Procedures (number) | 9 |
Time (days) | 27 |
Cost (% of income per capita*) | 76.6 |
Paid-in Minimum Capital (% of income per capita*) | 0.0 |
*GNI per capita used: USD 1,790
Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020
Paying Taxes
Paying Taxes
2020 Rank | 146/190 |
Payments (number per year) | 51 |
Time (hours per year) | 242 |
Total Tax Rate (% of profit) | 31.6 |
Profit Tax (% of profit) | 17.6 |
Labor Tax and Contributions (% of profit) | 5.6 |
Other Taxes (% of profit) | 8.3 |
Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020
Trading Across Borders
2020 Rank | 159/190 |
Time to Export: Border Compliance (hours) | 88 |
Cost to Export: Border Compliance (USD) | 285 |
Time to Export: Documentary Compliance (hours) | 99 |
Cost to Export: Documentary Compliance (USD) | 170 |
Time to Import: Border Compliance (hours) | 228 |
Cost to Import: Border Compliance (USD) | 562 |
Time to Import: Documentary Compliance (hours) | 81 |
Cost to Import: Documentary Compliance (USD) | 150 |
Assumptions:
* It is assumed that shipment travels from a warehouse in the largest business city of the exporting economy to a warehouse in the largest business city of the importing economy.
* It is assumed that each economy imports a standardized shipment of 15 metric tons of containerized auto parts (HS 8708) from its natural import partner—the economy from which it imports the largest value (price times quantity) of auto parts. It is assumed that each economy exports the product of its comparative advantage (defined by the largest export value) to its natural export partner—the economy that is the largest purchaser of this product.
* A shipment is a unit of trade. Export shipments do not necessarily need to be containerized, while import shipments of auto parts are assumed to be containerized.
* Shipping cost based on weight is assumed to be greater than shipping cost based on volume.
* If government fees are determined by the value of the shipment, the value is assumed to be $50,000.
* The mode of transport is the one most widely used for the chosen export or import product and the trading partner, as is the seaport, airport or land border crossing.
* Time is measured in hours, and 1 day is 24 hours.
* Costs do not include tariffs.
Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020
Investment Regime
Legal Framework
Investment Code 2007
Source: Deloitte, Guide to Fiscal Information, Key Economies in Africa 2018
Investment Incentives
General Incentives:
Mining incentives – Capital redemption allowance
Certain tax incentives apply to mining companies, including the following:
Indigenisation incentives and regulations
With effect, from 1 January 2018, the indigenisation and empowerment regulations requirement of 51% local ownership apply only to the extractive sector of platinum and diamond and does not apply to all other sectors.
Source: Deloitte, Guide to Fiscal Information, Key Economies in Africa 2018.