Military personnel in Zambia
Zambia: Military personnel was 15,000 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
15,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
107th
of 194 countries
All-time high
22,000
in 2000
All-time low
9,000
in 1964
Years of data
59
1964–2022
Military personnel in Zambia, 1964–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel in Zambia stood at 15,000.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Zambia peaked at 22,000 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 9,000, in 1964.
That places Zambia 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 59 years of available data.
Military personnel in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 9,000 | — |
| 1965 | 9,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 11,000 | +22.2% |
| 1967 | 10,000 | -9.1% |
| 1968 | 11,000 | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 12,000 | +9.1% |
| 1971 | 13,000 | +8.3% |
| 1972 | 14,000 | +7.7% |
| 1973 | 16,000 | +14.3% |
| 1974 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 17,000 | +6.2% |
| 1977 | 20,000 | +17.6% |
| 1978 | 14,000 | -30.0% |
| 1979 | 14,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 15,000 | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 17,000 | +13.3% |
| 1982 | 16,000 | -5.9% |
| 1983 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 17,000 | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 16,000 | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 16,000 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 21,000 | +31.2% |
| 1998 | 17,000 | -19.0% |
| 1999 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 22,000 | +29.4% |
| 2001 | 22,000 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 22,000 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 18,000 | -18.2% |
| 2004 | 17,000 | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 15,000 | -11.8% |
| 2006 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 15,000 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,500, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 15,000 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10,167 | 9,000 | 11,000 | 6 |
| 1970s | 15,200 | 12,000 | 20,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16,400 | 15,000 | 17,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,700 | 16,000 | 21,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17,600 | 15,000 | 22,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Zambia?
- Military personnel in Zambia was 15,000 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 22,000 in 2000.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,000 in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for military personnel?
- Zambia ranks 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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