Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 0.5194 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Zimbabwe, 1977–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in months of imports in Zimbabwe stood at 0.5194.
That represents a change of up 302.2% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Zimbabwe peaked at 4.04 in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.0628, in 2020.
That places Zimbabwe 171st out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1.17 | — |
| 1978 | 2.26 | +93.7% |
| 1979 | 4.04 | +78.7% |
| 1980 | 2.66 | -34.3% |
| 1981 | 1.87 | -29.7% |
| 1982 | 1.75 | -6.3% |
| 1983 | 2.06 | +17.5% |
| 1984 | 2.06 | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 2.68 | +30.3% |
| 1986 | 2.45 | -8.7% |
| 1987 | 2.7 | +10.3% |
| 1988 | 2.26 | -16.1% |
| 1989 | 1.64 | -27.6% |
| 1990 | 1.55 | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 1.39 | -10.4% |
| 1992 | 1.77 | +27.4% |
| 1993 | 3.23 | +82.4% |
| 1994 | 2.48 | -23.2% |
| 2009 | 2.61 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 1.33 | -49.0% |
| 2011 | 0.8315 | -37.6% |
| 2012 | 0.7954 | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 0.6562 | -17.5% |
| 2014 | 0.5284 | -19.5% |
| 2015 | 0.6876 | +30.1% |
| 2016 | 0.7417 | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 0.531 | -28.4% |
| 2018 | 0.1311 | -75.3% |
| 2019 | 0.3155 | +140.7% |
| 2020 | 0.0628 | -80.1% |
| 2021 | 1.15 | +1729.6% |
| 2022 | 0.7043 | -38.7% |
| 2023 | 0.1291 | -81.7% |
| 2024 | 0.5194 | +302.2% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 0.5194 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.09, 10% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 0.5194 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.67, 14% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +1729.6% | 0.0628 | 1.15 |
| 2024 | +302.2% | 0.1291 | 0.5194 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.49 | 1.17 | 4.04 | 3 |
| 1980s | 2.21 | 1.64 | 2.7 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.08 | 1.39 | 3.23 | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.61 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.655 | 0.1311 | 1.33 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5128 | 0.0628 | 1.15 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More financial sector data for Zimbabwe
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0265 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0194 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0265 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Zimbabwe?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Zimbabwe was 0.5194 in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 4.04 in 1979.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0628 in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Zimbabwe ranks 171st out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves in months of imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This item is expressed in terms of the number of months of imports of goods and services they could pay for [X/(Imports/12)].