Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 2,069 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe is 2,069 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 32.1% on the previous year and up 341.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe peaked at 3,870 constant 2024 US$ in 2002 and was at its lowest, 360.49 constant 2024 US$, in 1995.
Zimbabwe ranks 155th of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 799.74 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 715.27 constant 2024 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1990 | 814.96 constant 2024 US$ | +13.9% |
| 1991 | 847.56 constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 645.54 constant 2024 US$ | -23.8% |
| 1993 | 542.1 constant 2024 US$ | -16.0% |
| 1994 | 617.58 constant 2024 US$ | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 360.49 constant 2024 US$ | -41.6% |
| 1996 | 394.72 constant 2024 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 453.56 constant 2024 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1998 | 619.22 constant 2024 US$ | +36.5% |
| 1999 | 615.71 constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 762.27 constant 2024 US$ | +23.8% |
| 2001 | 1,021 constant 2024 US$ | +34.0% |
| 2002 | 3,870 constant 2024 US$ | +278.9% |
| 2003 | 1,386 constant 2024 US$ | -64.2% |
| 2004 | 866.67 constant 2024 US$ | -37.5% |
| 2005 | 636.64 constant 2024 US$ | -26.5% |
| 2006 | 589.16 constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
| 2010 | 468.78 constant 2024 US$ | -20.4% |
| 2011 | 914.65 constant 2024 US$ | +95.1% |
| 2012 | 1,414 constant 2024 US$ | +54.6% |
| 2013 | 1,560 constant 2024 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2014 | 1,613 constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 1,691 constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 1,633 constant 2024 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 1,533 constant 2024 US$ | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 1,711 constant 2024 US$ | +11.6% |
| 2019 | 1,567 constant 2024 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2020 | 2,069 constant 2024 US$ | +32.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 2,069 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, 13% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 2,069 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 15% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +278.9% | 1,021 constant 2024 US$ | 3,870 constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 757.51 constant 2024 US$ | 715.27 constant 2024 US$ | 799.74 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 591.14 constant 2024 US$ | 360.49 constant 2024 US$ | 847.56 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,305 constant 2024 US$ | 589.16 constant 2024 US$ | 3,870 constant 2024 US$ | 7 |
| 2010s | 1,411 constant 2024 US$ | 468.78 constant 2024 US$ | 1,711 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,069 constant 2024 US$ | 2,069 constant 2024 US$ | 2,069 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 152 Cambodia 3,640 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 153 Democratic Republic of Congo 2,978 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 154 Burundi 2,840 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 156 Laos 168.94 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 157 South Sudan 162.56 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 158 Costa Rica 0 constant 2024 US$
- 158 Iceland 0 constant 2024 US$
- 158 Panama 0 constant 2024 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 per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Zimbabwe was 2,069 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 3,870 constant 2024 US$ in 2002.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 360.49 constant 2024 US$ in 1995.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Zimbabwe ranks 155th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 341.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.