Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

64.4

Political Risk Index

53.8

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

70.6

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

73

Operational Risk Index

67.4

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Zimbabwe is in Southern Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Lower middle income. (World Bank)
• Population: 17 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$58.3bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 8.3% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 5% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 81.4% in 2025 (estimate); projected 4% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 38% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: 3.6% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: 0.1% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 26.6 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 3,509.17 in 2023: 99.2% more units per dollar fewer (the currency strengthened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 64.4 (rank 47 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 53.8 (rank 33 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 70.6 (rank 52 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 73 (rank 51 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 67.4 (rank 34 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: trade and investment risk (74.3, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 22; government effectiveness 34; political stability and absence of violence 5; rule of law 39; regulatory quality 34. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 31.6% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 9.3% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 1.9% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 6.5% of GDP (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 46.4% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 41.5% of GDP (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 324 published records tagged to Zimbabwe. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 62% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 82.4% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 4.2% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 33.8% of merchandise exports (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 1.9% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 46.4% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 41.6% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 94.2 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 9.5% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 54.3% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 14.9% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 37.1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 40.5% of population (2025); access to electricity 62% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Recent developments

• Microsoft Restores Services After Global Outlook and Teams Outage - The Zimbabwe Mail Microsoft Restores Services After Global Outlook and Teams Outage | Zimbabwe News (thezimbabwemail.com, 14 Nov 2026) (GDELT)
• They Honey Trap : When Personal Vulnerbilities Becomes A Weapon In The Global War of AI - The Zimbabwe Mail They Honey Trap : When Personal Vulnerbilities Becomes A Weapon In The Global War of AI | Zimbabwe News (thezimbabwemail.com, 14 Nov 2026) (GDELT)
• Padenga Revenue Surges 47 % as Gold Sales Rise and Mining Output Strengthens - The Zimbabwe Mail Padenga Revenue Surges 47 % as Gold Sales Rise and Mining Output Strengthens | Zimbabwe News (thezimbabwemail.com, 13 Nov 2026) (GDELT)
• Innscor Records Strong Food Manufacturing Growth in First Quarter - The Zimbabwe Mail Innscor Records Strong Food Manufacturing Growth in First Quarter | Zimbabwe News (thezimbabwemail.com, 13 Nov 2026) (GDELT)
• Simbisa Revenue Rises 24 % as Zimbabwe Sales Jump 27 % - The Zimbabwe Mail Simbisa Revenue Rises 24 % as Zimbabwe Sales Jump 27 % | Zimbabwe News (thezimbabwemail.com, 13 Nov 2026) (GDELT)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Domestic credit to the private sector (Latest published value is for 2023); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Trade and Development Bank, Sinohydro Leasing International, and FBC Bank invest USD 155.5 million in Afrochine Smelting
• Banyan Tree Holdings – strategic partnership with and majority acquisition of Newmark Hotels & Reserves
• Moussa Diao and Hervé Bouvet acquire Oryx Energies in a management buyout
• FINCA Ventures invests USD 60k in eAgro’s operations in Zimbabwe
• FINCA Ventures invests USD 40k in ChatCash’s operations in Rwanda and Zimbabwe
• Premier African Minerals raises GBP 1.2 million to restart Zimbabwe lithium project