Zimbabwe’s remittance inflows rose to $3.5bn in 2024.

Higher is better. More remittances mean more foreign currency and household income arriving without any debt attached, so a higher figure is better. The latest reading for 2024 is $3.5bn, up from $3.3bn a year earlier, a rise of 6.3%. That is the highest level since 2015, the start of the window, and well above the low of $1.4bn in 2019. Inflows have therefore risen to about two and a half times their 2019 level.

Why it matters. For Zimbabwean households, $3.5bn a year is a major source of money for food, school fees and health costs, particularly for families with a relative abroad. For firms, spending from these transfers supports retail and service demand. For the state, the inflow adds to the foreign currency circulating in the economy and eases some of the pressure on external accounts.