Zimbabwe’s diaspora remittance inflows have grown remarkably in recent years, underscoring the vital economic role played by citizens living abroad. The United Kingdom has now overtaken South Africa as Harare’s leading source of remittances.
According to official figures, remittances rose from US$922 million in 2019 to US$2.58 billion in 2024, marking a substantial 195% increase.
The trend is expected to continue in 2025, with projections indicating inflows will reach US$2.72 billion, and surpass US$2.75 billion by 2026.
Recent data for the first quarter of 2025 reveals that the United Kingdom and South Africa are the leading contributors to Zimbabwe’s remittance flows. The UK accounted for 28.6% of the total, approximately US$779 million, while South Africa followed closely with 27.5%, representing around US$748 million.
This marks a continuation of both countries’ strong roles in supporting Zimbabwe through financial transfers by their diaspora communities.
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The United States contributed 11.2% of remittances, equating to US$305 million.
Australia’s contribution stood at 5.5% (US$150 million), with Botswana and Canada making up 2.0% (US$54 million) and 2.1% (US$57 million) respectively.
The Rest of the World (ROW) segment, which aggregates smaller contributions from various other countries, collectively represented 23.1%, or about US$627 million.
A closer look at the data shows a shifting landscape over the past five years. South Africa, while still a major source, has experienced a gradual decline in its proportional share, from 38.3% in 2021 to 27.5% in 2025, while the UK’s share has risen from 24.7% to 28.6% over the same period.
The US and Australia also demonstrated steady growth in their contributions, reflecting broader global migration patterns and the economic activities of Zimbabweans abroad.
Diaspora funds provide crucial support to families, drive local business investments, and supplement a range of sectors across the country.
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