Military spending in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military spending was 578.61 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
578.61 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 20.5%
World rank
105th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.15 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1979
All-time low
113.44 million constant 2022 US$
in 1965
Years of data
59
1965–2023
Military spending in Zimbabwe, 1965–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Zimbabwe is 578.61 million constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 20.5% on the previous year and up 51.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Zimbabwe peaked at 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1979 and was at its lowest, 113.44 million constant 2022 US$, in 1965.
That places Zimbabwe 105th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 113.44 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1966 | 122.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1967 | 135.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1968 | 145.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1969 | 157.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 171.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1971 | 187.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1972 | 198.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 251.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +27.0% |
| 1974 | 325.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.5% |
| 1975 | 371.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 1976 | 484.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +30.6% |
| 1977 | 631.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +30.2% |
| 1978 | 781.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.8% |
| 1979 | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +47.1% |
| 1980 | 1.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1981 | 866.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.3% |
| 1982 | 808.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 665.53 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.7% |
| 1984 | 578.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.1% |
| 1985 | 499.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.6% |
| 1986 | 608.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.8% |
| 1987 | 630.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 606.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 572.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1990 | 529.88 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 511.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 423.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.3% |
| 1993 | 373.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.9% |
| 1994 | 337.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1995 | 345.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 348.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 399.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.7% |
| 1998 | 446.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1999 | 435.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 418.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 471.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.7% |
| 2002 | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +122.1% |
| 2003 | 312.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -70.2% |
| 2004 | 300.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 190.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -36.6% |
| 2006 | 188.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 190.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 177.88 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 169.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 155.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 224.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +44.7% |
| 2012 | 334.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +49.0% |
| 2013 | 381.32 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 2014 | 407.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 399.19 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 405.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 356.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 2018 | 336.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 223.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -33.6% |
| 2020 | 196.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 2021 | 449.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +128.6% |
| 2022 | 480.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 578.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.5% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 578.61 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 1.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 578.61 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +128.6% | 196.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 449.46 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 2002 | +122.1% | 471.05 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 134.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 113.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 157.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 455.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 171.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 684.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 499.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 415.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 337.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 529.88 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 346.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 169.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 322.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 155.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 407.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 426.16 million constant 2022 US$ | 196.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 578.61 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 102 Turkmenistan 609.92 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 103 Costa Rica 601.28 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 104 Honduras 583.42 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 106 Afghanistan 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 107 Brunei 566.79 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 108 Cameroon 545.00 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (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 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Zimbabwe?
- Military spending in Zimbabwe was 578.61 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 113.44 million constant 2022 US$ in 1965.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military spending?
- Zimbabwe ranks 105th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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 — 59 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.