Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 15,998 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zambia, 1985–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Zambia is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.2% on the previous year and up 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Zambia peaked at 21,936 constant 2024 US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3,346 constant 2024 US$, in 1996.
That places Zambia 104th out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zambia, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 12,335 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 21,079 constant 2024 US$ | +70.9% |
| 1990 | 19,720 constant 2024 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1991 | 13,182 constant 2024 US$ | -33.2% |
| 1992 | 14,981 constant 2024 US$ | +13.6% |
| 1993 | 7,271 constant 2024 US$ | -51.5% |
| 1994 | 8,550 constant 2024 US$ | +17.6% |
| 1995 | 5,002 constant 2024 US$ | -41.5% |
| 1996 | 3,346 constant 2024 US$ | -33.1% |
| 1997 | 3,354 constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 4,997 constant 2024 US$ | +49.0% |
| 2004 | 9,407 constant 2024 US$ | +88.3% |
| 2005 | 10,533 constant 2024 US$ | +12.0% |
| 2006 | 11,508 constant 2024 US$ | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 13,035 constant 2024 US$ | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 12,987 constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 11,889 constant 2024 US$ | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 13,209 constant 2024 US$ | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 13,874 constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 15,444 constant 2024 US$ | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 16,665 constant 2024 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 20,505 constant 2024 US$ | +23.0% |
| 2015 | 21,936 constant 2024 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 17,878 constant 2024 US$ | -18.5% |
| 2017 | 17,948 constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 20,482 constant 2024 US$ | +14.1% |
| 2019 | 18,009 constant 2024 US$ | -12.1% |
| 2020 | 15,998 constant 2024 US$ | -11.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 15,998 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 15,998 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16,707 constant 2024 US$ | 12,335 constant 2024 US$ | 21,079 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 8,934 constant 2024 US$ | 3,346 constant 2024 US$ | 19,720 constant 2024 US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 11,560 constant 2024 US$ | 9,407 constant 2024 US$ | 13,035 constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
| 2010s | 17,595 constant 2024 US$ | 13,209 constant 2024 US$ | 21,936 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,998 constant 2024 US$ | 15,998 constant 2024 US$ | 15,998 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 per armed forces personnel in Zambia?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zambia was 15,998 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 21,936 constant 2024 US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,346 constant 2024 US$ in 1996.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Zambia ranks 104th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. 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.