Zimbabwe Short-term Debt
Short-term debt as % of total external debt DT.DOD.DSTC.ZS
Zimbabwe's short-term debt was 26.71% in 2025, ranked 16th globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Zimbabwe's short-term debt stood at 26.71% in 2025, a decline of +0.83% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 26.71% by 2025. Zimbabwe ranked 16th globally.
Zimbabwe’s short‑term debt rose from a modest 1.38 in 1970 to a historic high of 31.59 in 1981, reflecting the fiscal pressures of the early reform era, before falling to a trough of 0.00 in 1976. Over the 56‑year coverage period, the stock has fluctuated but remained well above the early‑year baseline, reaching 26.71 in 2025, which places the country 16th in the global ranking. This 2025 figure is comparable to the levels recorded by peers such as South Africa (28.43) and North Macedonia (27.09), indicating that Zimbabwe now occupies a similar position to middle‑income economies with relatively elevated short‑term borrowing needs. The persistence of high short‑term liabilities suggests continued reliance on external financing to bridge fiscal gaps, a pattern that could be altered by stronger domestic revenue mobilization or structural reforms that reduce financing gaps. If such measures take hold, the upward trajectory of short‑term debt may moderate in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Short-term Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 26.01% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 26.36% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 26.71% | - | - |
| 2025 | 26.71% | −0.83% | #16 |
| 2024 | 27.54% | +0.49% | #105 |
| 2023 | 27.05% | −1.10% | #109 |
| 2022 | 28.15% | +1.66% | #112 |
| 2021 | 26.49% | −3.09% | #112 |
| 2020 | 29.58% | +1.47% | #111 |
| 2019 | 28.11% | +1.97% | #110 |
| 2018 | 26.14% | −2.84% | #108 |
| 2017 | 28.98% | +2.39% | #111 |
| 2016 | 26.59% | −4.16% | #110 |
| 2015 | 30.75% | +0.24% | #110 |
| 2014 | 30.51% | −1.00% | #105 |
| 2013 | 31.50% | +5.00% | #108 |
| 2012 | 26.51% | −0.41% | #103 |
| 2011 | 26.92% | +0.97% | #106 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw short-term debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's short-term debt was 26.71% in 2025. Ranked 16th globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's short-term debt peaked at 31.59% in 1981.
The lowest short-term debt in Zimbabwe was 0.00% in 1973.
Zimbabwe ranks 16th globally in short-term debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DSTC.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zimbabwe's short-term debt is projected to reach 26.71% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The short-term debt of Zimbabwe in 2025 was 26.71%. This ranks 16th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_short-term-debt,
title = {Zimbabwe Short-term Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/short-term-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}