Zimbabwe

Presence country
Zimbabwe
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Latest analysis
Food Security Outlook October 2025 - May 2026 Favorable 2025 harvest drives delays in typical onset of lean season Download the report
  • Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to emerge in November across many typical deficit-producing areas in Matabeleland North and South, Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland provinces, and the far northern parts of the Mashonaland provinces. Own-produced food stocks this year are likely to last longer than typical following the above-average 2025 harvest, driving a delayed onset of the lean season. As households exhaust food from their own production and become market dependent with below-average purchasing power, moderate food consumption deficits will emerge. In early 2026, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to expand in deficit-producing areas and to a few typical surplus-producing areas.
  • Seasonal improvements in acute food insecurity are most likely countrywide in April and May 2026 with Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes driven by the 2026 harvest. The forecast average 2025/26 rainfall is expected to support crop and livestock production and income from agricultural labor. The most likely 2026 above-average harvest will mark a second consecutive favorable harvest.
  • The areas of highest concern are the worst-off typical deficit-producing areas facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes. Worst-off areas include locations impacted by the poor performance of the 2024/25 rainfall season, which, combined with late planting resulted in a short growing season and poor maturation of crops, reduced crop yields. In the south, excessive rainfall also negatively affected crop production. Typical income sources such as labor, self-employment, petty trade, and remittances are expected to be below typical levels, as is the Mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina) harvest.
  • Food assistance needs are expected to increase through the peak of the January to March 2026 lean season. Overall,food assistance needs are expected to be at near-average levels, though lower than the atypically high El-Niño-induced needs during the last 2024/25 lean season. Thereafter, food assistance needs are expected to decline with the availability of the 2026 harvest.
  • The analysis in this report is based on information available as of October 17, 2025.
 Read the full analysis
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Food security
Key Message Update Zimbabwe September 2025
Key Message Update Zimbabwe August 2025
Key Message Update Zimbabwe July 2025
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Global November 6, 2025 - November 12, 2025
Global Weather Hazards Global October 30, 2025 - November 5, 2025
Global Weather Hazards Global October 23, 2025 - October 29, 2025
Markets & trade
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Alerts / Special Reports
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
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Food Security Classification data View all Zimbabwe Food Security Classification data
Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification

Current (October 2025) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (October 2025 - January 2026) and medium term (February 2026 - May 2026) periods.

 Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile October 2025 (.zip) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification October 2025 (.geojson) Current Situation: October 2025 (.png) Near Term Projection: October 2025 - January 2026 (.png) Medium Term Projection: February 2026 - May 2026 (.png) Current Situation: October 2025 (.kml) Near Term Projection: October 2025 - January 2026 (.kml) Medium Term Projection: February 2026 - May 2026 (.kml) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification

Current (October 2024) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (October 2024 - January 2025) and medium term (February 2025 - May 2025) periods.

 Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile October 2024 (.zip) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification October 2024 (.geojson) Current Situation: October 2024 (.png) Near Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.png) Medium Term Projection: February 2025 - May 2025 (.png) Current Situation: October 2024 (.kml) Near Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.kml) Medium Term Projection: February 2025 - May 2025 (.kml) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (September 2024) and medium term (October 2024 - January 2025) periods.

 Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile September 2024 (.zip) Zimbabwe Acute Food Insecurity Classification September 2024 (.geojson) Near Term Projection: September 2024 (.png) Medium Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.png) Near Term Projection: September 2024 (.kml) Medium Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.kml)
Seasonal Calendar

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.
Seasonal Calendar image showing harvest and rainy periods for Zimbabwe
Production & Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Wheat, Normal Year Maize, Normal Year
Satellite-derived products map

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all satellite-derived products
Livelihood Zone resources Zimbabwe Livelihood Baseline Narrative - 2011 Zimbabwe Livelihood Baseline Synthesis Report - 2011 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Profiles, December 2010 Zimbabwe Livelihood Zones Map
Zimbabwe 2011 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
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