Zimbabwe Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Zimbabwe's government spending was 10.98% in 2018, ranked 11th globally. This represents a 12.2% increase from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 2009–2018.
Overview
Zimbabwe's government spending stood at 10.98% in 2018, a rise of +1.19% from 2017. Zimbabwe ranked 11th globally.
Zimbabwe’s government spending as a share of GDP rose from a trough of 9.47 percent in 2009 to an all‑time peak of 25.24 percent in 2016, before easing to 10.98 percent in 2018, placing the country at rank 11 globally. The eight‑year span reflects a dramatic fiscal expansion during the early 2010s, driven by heightened public sector wage bills and infrastructure programmes, followed by a contraction as revenue shortfalls and external debt pressures mounted. By 2018 Zimbabwe’s spending level was comparable to that of Cambodia (10.76 percent) and slightly below Cameroon (11.37 percent), suggesting a convergence with other lower‑income African economies that maintain modest fiscal footprints. The recent decline indicates a tentative re‑balancing of the budget, but sustaining this trajectory will depend on improving tax collection, stabilising the currency and securing concessional financing to avoid a reversal toward the 2016 peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10.98% | +1.19% | #11 |
| 2017 | 9.78% | −15.45% | #6 |
| 2016 | 25.24% | +3.43% | #69 |
| 2015 | 21.81% | +1.60% | #56 |
| 2012 | 20.21% | +1.13% | #47 |
| 2011 | 19.08% | +2.96% | #38 |
| 2010 | 16.12% | +6.66% | #25 |
| 2009 | 9.47% | – | #4 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's government spending was 10.98% in 2018. Ranked 11th globally. This represents a 12.2% increase from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's government spending peaked at 25.24% in 2016.
The lowest government spending in Zimbabwe was 9.47% in 2009.
Zimbabwe ranks 11th globally in government spending as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The government spending of Zimbabwe in 2018 was 10.98%. This ranks 11th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_government-spending,
title = {Zimbabwe Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}