Zimbabwe Economic Growth Slows Despite Agriculture Rebound: ZIMSTAT
Zimbabwe’s economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter of 2025, with quarterly GDP growth easing to 0.34% from 1.08% in the previous quarter, according to ZIMSTAT. Mining remained the largest contributor to GDP, while agriculture recorded the strongest sectoral growth despite contractions in manufacturing and electricity supply.
Delicious Mathuthu 
Harare - Zimbabwe’s economy grew at a much slower pace in the last quarter of 2025, new figures released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) reveal.
The data shows that economic growth slowed to 0.34% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 1.08% in the previous quarter and far below the 9.12% growth recorded earlier in the year.
ZIMSTAT said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a measure of all goods and services produced in the economy, rose from ZiG420.2 billion in the third quarter to ZiG448.5 billion in the fourth quarter at current prices.
“The figures provide an indication of changes in economic activity, based on developments during the quarter,” ZIMSTAT's Grown Chirongwe, the National Accounts Manager said during a presentation of the Fourth Quarter 2025 GDP estimates on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The report shows that some sectors of the economy performed well, while others struggled.
Agriculture, fishing and forestry recorded the strongest growth during the quarter at 16.37%, helped by improved activity in the sector.
Information and communication services also grew strongly, by 8.85%.
Hotels, restaurants, transport and storage services also posted smaller gains.
Some important sectors however recorded declines.
Electricity, gas and air conditioning supply fell by 18.37%, while water supply and waste management dropped by 14.16%.
Mining and quarrying, one of Zimbabwe’s biggest industries, declined by 2.83%, while manufacturing fell by 1.51%.
Mining declined in the fouth quarter of 2025. Image credit: Zimplats.
Despite the slowdown, mining remained the biggest contributor to the economy, making up 15.47% of GDP during the quarter.
Manufacturing contributed 14.59%, while wholesale and retail trade accounted for 11.11%.
Agriculture contributed 11.09%, while financial and insurance services made up 10.70% of the economy.
The report also showed that year-on-year economic growth slowed to 7.04% in the fourth quarter, compared to 10.65% in the third quarter.
“During the fourth Quarter of 2025, the year on year GDP growth rate dropped to 7.04% compared to 10.7% in Q3,” ZIMSTAT said.
The agency noted that GDP figures can later be revised when more information becomes available.
“Revisions are mainly on account of change in methodology, availability of updated source data, benchmarking and other factors,” Chirongwe said.
