Military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending as a share of government spending was 4.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia, 2004–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government spending.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia stood at 4.5%.
That represents a change of down 13.6% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia peaked at 8.3% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2021.
Zambia ranks 99th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of government spending | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 6.8% | — |
| 2005 | 7.5% | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 8.0% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | -11.8% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 6.7% | +18.7% |
| 2015 | 6.3% | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 6.0% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -12.8% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -18.7% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | +23.0% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +23.4% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | -13.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.8% | 6.8% | 8.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 4.2% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.2% | 5.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia?
- Military spending as a share of government spending in Zambia was 4.5% in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of government spending recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.3% in 2007.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of government spending recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2021.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending as a share of government spending?
- Zambia ranks 99th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of government spending rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by government spending.