Military spending in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending was 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
421.22 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
118th
of 172 countries
All-time high
527.02 million constant 2022 US$
in 1981
All-time low
44.29 million constant 2022 US$
in 2001
Years of data
60
1964–2023
Military spending in Zambia, 1964–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Zambia is 421.22 million constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Zambia peaked at 527.02 million constant 2022 US$ in 1981 and was at its lowest, 44.29 million constant 2022 US$, in 2001.
That places Zambia 118th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Zambia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 99.52 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1965 | 160.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +61.0% |
| 1966 | 158.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 142.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1968 | 145.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 122.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.1% |
| 1970 | 163.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +33.8% |
| 1971 | 340.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +107.9% |
| 1972 | 389.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1973 | 348.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.4% |
| 1974 | 352.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 373.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1976 | 397.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 398.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 445.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1979 | 466.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 504.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1981 | 527.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 463.53 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1983 | 473.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 385.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.7% |
| 1985 | 147.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -61.7% |
| 1986 | 162.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 1987 | 164.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 177.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 209.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.4% |
| 1990 | 170.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.4% |
| 1991 | 150.21 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.9% |
| 1992 | 150.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 113.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -24.6% |
| 1994 | 109.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 99.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.3% |
| 1996 | 85.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1997 | 93.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 95.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 98.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 52.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -47.4% |
| 2001 | 44.29 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.0% |
| 2002 | 44.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 50.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.6% |
| 2004 | 94.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +86.6% |
| 2005 | 222.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +135.6% |
| 2006 | 315.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +42.1% |
| 2007 | 293.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 302.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 287.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 310.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 343.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2012 | 374.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 422.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 2014 | 459.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 422.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 391.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 398.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 428.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 2019 | 436.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 384.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 384.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 400.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 87% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +135.6% | 94.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 222.27 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1971 | +107.9% | 163.82 million constant 2022 US$ | 340.53 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 2004 | +86.6% | 50.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 94.35 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 138.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 99.52 million constant 2022 US$ | 160.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 6 |
| 1970s | 367.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 163.82 million constant 2022 US$ | 466.76 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 321.61 million constant 2022 US$ | 147.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 527.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 116.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 85.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 170.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 170.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 44.29 million constant 2022 US$ | 315.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 398.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 310.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 459.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 397.61 million constant 2022 US$ | 384.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 115 Paraguay 476.41 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 116 Namibia 463.26 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 117 Kyrgyzstan 439.89 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 119 Chad 410.87 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 120 Mozambique 387.93 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 121 Congo 358.41 million constant 2022 US$ 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 in Zambia?
- Military spending in Zambia was 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 527.02 million constant 2022 US$ in 1981.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.29 million constant 2022 US$ in 2001.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending?
- Zambia ranks 118th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.