Zimbabwe - Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)

Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) in Zimbabwe was 38.80 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 45 years was 68.05 in 2008, while its lowest value was 19.47 in 1983.

Definition: Imports of goods and services represent the value of all goods and other market services received from the rest of the world. They include the value of merchandise, freight, insurance, transport, travel, royalties, license fees, and other services, such as communication, construction, financial, information, business, personal, and government services. They exclude compensation of employees and investment income (formerly called factor services) and transfer payments.

Source: World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.

See also:

Year Value
1975 24.43
1976 19.60
1977 20.22
1978 19.99
1979 22.66
1980 26.52
1981 25.91
1982 22.22
1983 19.47
1984 20.81
1985 22.01
1986 21.52
1987 21.27
1988 20.36
1989 21.72
1990 22.79
1991 27.17
1992 36.49
1993 32.45
1994 36.52
1995 40.92
1996 35.94
1997 44.61
1998 45.12
1999 33.51
2000 35.91
2001 32.94
2002 34.97
2003 38.05
2004 41.57
2005 42.50
2006 46.86
2007 46.39
2008 68.05
2009 42.30
2010 53.48
2011 54.67
2012 49.00
2013 36.67
2014 33.74
2015 37.59
2016 31.28
2017 30.37
2018 41.40
2019 32.03
2020 38.80

Limitations and Exceptions: Because policymakers have tended to focus on fostering the growth of output, and because data on production are easier to collect than data on spending, many countries generate their primary estimate of GDP using the production approach. Moreover, many countries do not estimate all the components of national expenditures but instead derive some of the main aggregates indirectly using GDP (based on the production approach) as the control total. Data on exports and imports are compiled from customs reports and balance of payments data. Although the data from the payments side provide reasonably reliable records of cross-border transactions, they may not adhere strictly to the appropriate definitions of valuation and timing used in the balance of payments or corresponds to the change-of ownership criterion. This issue has assumed greater significance with the increasing globalization of international business. Neither customs nor balance of payments data usually capture the illegal transactions that occur in many countries. Goods carried by travelers across borders in legal but unreported shuttle trade may further distort trade statistics.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Gross domestic product (GDP) from the expenditure side is made up of household final consumption expenditure, general government final consumption expenditure, gross capital formation (private and public investment in fixed assets, changes in inventories, and net acquisitions of valuables), and net exports (exports minus imports) of goods and services. Such expenditures are recorded in purchaser prices and include net taxes on products.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Economic Policy & Debt Indicators

Sub-Topic: National accounts