Total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Total natural resource rents was 6.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe, 1970–2021
Source: The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe is 6.4%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 34.8% on the previous year and down 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe peaked at 18.3% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1972.
That places Zimbabwe 67th out of 211 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.3% | — |
| 1971 | 2.9% | -10.4% |
| 1972 | 2.3% | -22.6% |
| 1973 | 3.1% | +35.7% |
| 1974 | 3.6% | +18.2% |
| 1975 | 3.4% | -7.0% |
| 1976 | 4.2% | +25.4% |
| 1977 | 4.9% | +15.3% |
| 1978 | 4.3% | -11.5% |
| 1979 | 5.0% | +15.4% |
| 1980 | 6.0% | +20.4% |
| 1981 | 4.2% | -30.6% |
| 1982 | 4.0% | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | -13.0% |
| 1984 | 3.7% | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 3.8% | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 3.7% | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 4.0% | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 5.0% | +23.7% |
| 1989 | 4.8% | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -11.5% |
| 1991 | 9.7% | +129.4% |
| 1992 | 10.8% | +11.9% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | -19.3% |
| 1994 | 9.5% | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 8.5% | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 6.8% | -15.3% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | -17.4% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -33.8% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +28.4% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | +35.0% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +20.8% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 11.5% | +34.2% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | +35.5% |
| 2008 | 18.3% | +17.8% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | -63.1% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | -24.3% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | -15.5% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | +11.5% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | -18.1% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | +35.6% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | -44.6% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +39.6% |
| 2020 | 4.7% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | +34.8% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 6.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.4%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 6.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.7%, 83% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.7% | 2.3% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.3% | 3.5% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 3.7% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 3.9% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 3.4% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 4.7% | 6.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe?
- Total natural resource rents in Zimbabwe was 6.4% in 2021, according to The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total natural resource rents recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2008.
- What is the lowest total natural resource rents recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1972.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for total natural resource rents?
- Zimbabwe ranks 67th out of 211 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total natural resource rents rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total natural resource rents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Natural resources rents are estimated as the difference between the price of a commodity and the average cost of producing it. Total natural resources rents are the sum of oil rents, natural gas rents, coal rents, mineral rents, and forest rents.