Zimbabwe is set to become Africa's 14th-largest economy, with the IMF putting its GDP at US$65.92 billion. That would place it ahead of Cameroon and Tunisia, based on the latest figures from the fund's October 2026 World Economic Outlook.
Cameroon sits just behind Zimbabwe in the forecast, at US$64.81 billion. Tunisia trails with US$62.74 billion. The gap is not huge, but it gives Zimbabwe a higher spot on the continental list.
At the top, South Africa still leads with a projected US$489.08 billion economy. Egypt comes next at US$442.89 billion, while Nigeria holds third place with US$386.67 billion.
And Zimbabwe's economy is forecast to grow by about 5% in 2026. The country is trying to raise output and bring in more investors, though the final growth figure could differ from the estimate.
There is a catch with these rankings. They use nominal GDP, which counts the value of what a country makes at current prices and converts it into US dollars. Changes in currency values and inflation can shift the numbers.
A better rank does not mean life has improved for every household, either. Jobs, factory output, and how much people can produce still matter when judging the health of an economy.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been pushing for closer business ties across Africa. At the 19th COMESA Business Forum, held at the Harare International Conference Centre, he urged member states to work more closely on trade and investment.
His focus was on helping African firms make more goods and reach new buyers across borders. Wider market access could give Zimbabwean businesses more room to grow as the country works to expand its economy.
Cameroon sits just behind Zimbabwe in the forecast, at US$64.81 billion. Tunisia trails with US$62.74 billion. The gap is not huge, but it gives Zimbabwe a higher spot on the continental list.
At the top, South Africa still leads with a projected US$489.08 billion economy. Egypt comes next at US$442.89 billion, while Nigeria holds third place with US$386.67 billion.
And Zimbabwe's economy is forecast to grow by about 5% in 2026. The country is trying to raise output and bring in more investors, though the final growth figure could differ from the estimate.
There is a catch with these rankings. They use nominal GDP, which counts the value of what a country makes at current prices and converts it into US dollars. Changes in currency values and inflation can shift the numbers.
A better rank does not mean life has improved for every household, either. Jobs, factory output, and how much people can produce still matter when judging the health of an economy.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been pushing for closer business ties across Africa. At the 19th COMESA Business Forum, held at the Harare International Conference Centre, he urged member states to work more closely on trade and investment.
His focus was on helping African firms make more goods and reach new buyers across borders. Wider market access could give Zimbabwean businesses more room to grow as the country works to expand its economy.
