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Zimbabwe

Republic of Zimbabwe

English, Shona, Ndebele Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) Mixed: Roman-Dutch law, English common law, customary law
AU, SADC, COMESA, AfCFTA, WTO

Zimbabwe possesses extraordinary mineral wealth, including the world's second-largest platinum deposits, significant gold reserves, and Africa's largest lithium deposits at Bikita Minerals and Arcadia (owned by Prospect Resources/Zhejiang Huayou). The country is also a major producer of chrome, diamonds, and nickel.

Agriculture remains vital, with tobacco as the leading agricultural export (world's sixth-largest producer). Victoria Falls is an iconic tourism destination. The economy has faced persistent macroeconomic challenges including hyperinflation, currency instability, and a complex multi-currency system using both USD and the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) introduced in April 2024.

The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) administers investment facilitation. The government's "Vision 2030" targets upper-middle-income status. Key reforms needed include currency stability, property rights clarity, and reduction of the informal economy.

Snapshot

Population~17.0 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP (current USD)$51.2 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP per Capita$3,021World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth8.11%World Bank, 2025
Inflation (y/y)~104.71%World Bank, 2022
Bank policy rate (RBZ)35.00%Central Bank
Unemployment9.29%World Bank, ILO modelled estimate, 2025
Internet Use~41.64%World Bank, 2024
Electrification~49.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)23.0/100 (#157)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.593 (#146)UNDP HDR
MarketZimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE)

World Bank Indicators Compare with another country

GDP (current USD)$51.2 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP growth (annual)8.11%World Bank, 2025
GDP per capita (USD)$3,021World Bank, 2025
Population, total17.0 MWorld Bank, 2025
FDI net inflows (USD)$465.4 MWorld Bank, 2024
Inflation (consumer prices)104.71%World Bank, 2022
Unemployment (% labour force)9.29%World Bank, 2025
Internet use (% of people)41.64%World Bank, 2024
Trade (% of GDP)41.50%World Bank, 2024

Climate Readiness Full ranking

45out of 100
Emerging
Climate adaptation readiness for Zimbabwe, from 5 of 5 measured indicators.
Energy access4949.0% · 30% weight
Governance readiness2323 / 100 CPI · 20% weight
Human readiness590.593 HDI · 20% weight
Economic readiness58$3,021, 2025 · 15% weight
Digital readiness3535.0% · 15% weight
This scores climate adaptation readiness (adaptive capacity), following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. It is built only from measured values already held on this profile and normalised 0-100. It does not measure emissions or physical climate vulnerability: the platform does not yet hold emissions, hazard-exposure or natural-capital series. Energy access is the single most climate-specific indicator held; the other four are governance, economic, human-development and digital readiness proxies. The economic sub-score is relative to the African countries the platform covers.
How this is computed

Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.

  • Energy access (30%) — World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
  • Governance readiness (20%) — Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
  • Human readiness (20%) — UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
  • Economic readiness (15%) — World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
  • Digital readiness (15%) — World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.

A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.

Country Facts

CapitalHarare
RegionSouthern Africa
CurrencyZimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
FX RegimeMultiple currency system (USD + Zimbabwe Gold ZiG)
Stock ExchangeZimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE)
Investment Promotion AgencyZimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA)
Legal SystemMixed: Roman-Dutch law, English common law, customary law
Time ZoneAfrica/Harare

Focus Sectors

Mining (platinum
gold
lithium
chrome
diamonds)
Agriculture (tobacco
sugar)
Tourism (Victoria Falls)
Manufacturing
Financial Services
Energy
Construction
Telecoms
Retail
Transport

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax25% standard (24.72% effective with AIDS levy)
VAT / Sales Tax15% standard