Zimbabwe Interest Payments to Revenue
Interest payments as % of revenue GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS
Zimbabwe's interest payments to revenue was 13.47% in 2018, ranked 115th globally. This represents a 123.6% increase from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 2009–2018.
Overview
Zimbabwe's interest payments to revenue stood at 13.47% in 2018, a rise of +7.45pp from 2017. Zimbabwe ranked 115th globally.
Zimbabwe’s interest payments as a share of revenue rose sharply from 2.23 % in 2009 to a peak of 13.47 % in 2018, the highest level recorded in the eight‑year series and equal to the 2018 figure posted by Costa Rica, its nearest peer in the World Bank ranking. After a trough of 0.62 % in 2012, the upward trajectory accelerated, reaching 13.47 % in 2018 and placing Zimbabwe at 115th globally. The steep increase reflects heightened debt servicing costs amid fiscal pressures, a pattern also observed in other small open economies such as Iceland, where interest payments approached 13.86 % of revenue. Persistent high borrowing costs and limited revenue growth suggest that without substantial debt restructuring or revenue enhancement, the share of interest payments is likely to remain elevated, although a concerted fiscal consolidation effort could reverse the trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Payments to Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 13.47% | +7.45pp | #115 |
| 2017 | 6.02% | +1.99pp | #73 |
| 2016 | 4.03% | +1.73pp | #47 |
| 2015 | 2.30% | +1.68pp | #27 |
| 2012 | 0.62% | −0.55pp | #12 |
| 2011 | 1.17% | −0.14pp | #15 |
| 2010 | 1.32% | −0.92pp | #14 |
| 2009 | 2.23% | – | #27 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw interest payments to revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's interest payments to revenue was 13.47% in 2018. Ranked 115th globally. This represents a 123.6% increase from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's interest payments to revenue peaked at 13.47% in 2018.
The lowest interest payments to revenue in Zimbabwe was 0.62% in 2012.
Zimbabwe ranks 115th globally in interest payments to revenue as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The interest payments to revenue of Zimbabwe in 2018 was 13.47%. This ranks 115th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_interest-to-revenue,
title = {Zimbabwe Interest Payments to Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/interest-to-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}