Yesha
Senior Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 183
- 97
Zimbabwe’s economy grew by an average of almost 6% between 2021 and 2025, reaching 8.3% growth in 2025.
However, the World Bank says this growth has not yet translated into significant improvements in living standards for most Zimbabweans.
In its latest Zimbabwe Country Growth and Jobs Report, the World Bank warns that without major economic reforms, growth could slow to about 4% a year up to 2030.
This would fall short of the more than 6% annual growth Zimbabwe needs to achieve its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The report highlights the gap between economic growth and household incomes.
Median monthly earnings were about US$60 for workers in agriculture, US$108 in the informal private sector and US$168 in the formal private sector in 2022.
The figures highlight the income gap between Zimbabwe’s different parts of the economy, with workers in the informal sector earning significantly less than those in formal employment.
About four in five jobs are informal, while the informal economy contributes around two-thirds of GDP.
The World Bank says many workers leaving agriculture are moving into informal trading and services instead of manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, tourism and other higher-value industries.
Mining remains a major opportunity because Zimbabwe has large deposits of lithium, platinum group metals, gold and diamonds. However, the sector is capital intensive and cannot create enough jobs on its own.
The World Bank recommends that Zimbabwe increase local processing and value addition in both mining and agriculture.
It also calls for improvements in electricity, roads and railways, easier business registration, fewer licences and permits, faster customs procedures and stronger property rights.
The report further recommends mobilising more private investment and strengthening the banking sector.
The World Bank estimates that implementing these reforms could make Zimbabwe’s real GDP 26.9% higher than the baseline by 2040 and create nearly 2.7 million additional and better-paid jobs.
The Bank says Zimbabwe has achieved some economic stability, but the country needs to use this period to transform the structure of its economy and create more productive jobs.
However, the World Bank says this growth has not yet translated into significant improvements in living standards for most Zimbabweans.
In its latest Zimbabwe Country Growth and Jobs Report, the World Bank warns that without major economic reforms, growth could slow to about 4% a year up to 2030.
This would fall short of the more than 6% annual growth Zimbabwe needs to achieve its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The report highlights the gap between economic growth and household incomes.
Median monthly earnings were about US$60 for workers in agriculture, US$108 in the informal private sector and US$168 in the formal private sector in 2022.
The figures highlight the income gap between Zimbabwe’s different parts of the economy, with workers in the informal sector earning significantly less than those in formal employment.
About four in five jobs are informal, while the informal economy contributes around two-thirds of GDP.
The World Bank says many workers leaving agriculture are moving into informal trading and services instead of manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, tourism and other higher-value industries.
Mining remains a major opportunity because Zimbabwe has large deposits of lithium, platinum group metals, gold and diamonds. However, the sector is capital intensive and cannot create enough jobs on its own.
The World Bank recommends that Zimbabwe increase local processing and value addition in both mining and agriculture.
It also calls for improvements in electricity, roads and railways, easier business registration, fewer licences and permits, faster customs procedures and stronger property rights.
The report further recommends mobilising more private investment and strengthening the banking sector.
The World Bank estimates that implementing these reforms could make Zimbabwe’s real GDP 26.9% higher than the baseline by 2040 and create nearly 2.7 million additional and better-paid jobs.
The Bank says Zimbabwe has achieved some economic stability, but the country needs to use this period to transform the structure of its economy and create more productive jobs.
