Military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending, annual growth rate was -1.79 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia, 1985–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia stood at -1.79 % change on previous year.
The figure is down 127.9% on the previous year and down 125.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia peaked at 84.45 % change on previous year in 1986 and was at its lowest, -51.47 % change on previous year, in 1993.
That places Zambia 126th out of 159 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | -19.4 % change on previous year | — |
| 1986 | 84.45 % change on previous year | -535.3% |
| 1987 | -9.75 % change on previous year | -111.5% |
| 1988 | -25.46 % change on previous year | +161.1% |
| 1989 | 44.52 % change on previous year | -274.9% |
| 1990 | -11.95 % change on previous year | -126.8% |
| 1991 | -33.16 % change on previous year | +177.5% |
| 1992 | 13.65 % change on previous year | -141.2% |
| 1993 | -51.47 % change on previous year | -477.1% |
| 1994 | 17.59 % change on previous year | -134.2% |
| 1995 | -15.9 % change on previous year | -190.4% |
| 1996 | -33.11 % change on previous year | +108.3% |
| 1997 | 0.243 % change on previous year | -100.7% |
| 2005 | 11.97 % change on previous year | +4826.5% |
| 2006 | 9.26 % change on previous year | -22.7% |
| 2007 | 13.28 % change on previous year | +43.4% |
| 2008 | -0.374 % change on previous year | -102.8% |
| 2009 | -5.59 % change on previous year | +1394.6% |
| 2010 | 11.1 % change on previous year | -298.6% |
| 2011 | 5.03 % change on previous year | -54.7% |
| 2012 | 11.32 % change on previous year | +124.9% |
| 2013 | 7.91 % change on previous year | -30.1% |
| 2014 | 23.04 % change on previous year | +191.3% |
| 2015 | 6.98 % change on previous year | -69.7% |
| 2016 | -18.5 % change on previous year | -365.1% |
| 2017 | -2.65 % change on previous year | -85.7% |
| 2018 | 14.83 % change on previous year | -659.7% |
| 2019 | -12.62 % change on previous year | -185.1% |
| 2020 | -11.17 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 2021 | -8.2 % change on previous year | -26.6% |
| 2022 | 14.41 % change on previous year | -275.8% |
| 2023 | 21.98 % change on previous year | +52.5% |
| 2024 | 6.42 % change on previous year | -70.8% |
| 2025 | -1.79 % change on previous year | -127.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's -1.79 % change on previous year is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.3 % change on previous year. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's -1.79 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.97 % change on previous year. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +4826.5% | 0.243 % change on previous year | 11.97 % change on previous year |
| 2009 | -1394.6% | -0.374 % change on previous year | -5.59 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.87 % change on previous year | -25.46 % change on previous year | 84.45 % change on previous year | 5 |
| 1990s | -14.26 % change on previous year | -51.47 % change on previous year | 17.59 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 2000s | 5.71 % change on previous year | -5.59 % change on previous year | 13.28 % change on previous year | 5 |
| 2010s | 4.64 % change on previous year | -18.5 % change on previous year | 23.04 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.61 % change on previous year | -11.17 % change on previous year | 21.98 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 123 Burundi -1.48 % change on previous year compare
- 124 Nepal -1.61 % change on previous year compare
- 125 Equatorial Guinea -1.78 % change on previous year compare
- 127 Paraguay -1.95 % change on previous year compare
- 128 United Kingdom -2.04 % change on previous year compare
- 129 Bangladesh -2.2 % change on previous year compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- 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)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia?
- Military spending, annual growth rate in Zambia was -1.79 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.45 % change on previous year in 1986.
- What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -51.47 % change on previous year in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
- Zambia ranks 126th out of 159 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 125.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.