Military spending, per capita in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending, per capita was 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Zambia, 1964–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person for military spending, per capita in 2023.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Zambia peaked at 88.08 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1981 and was at its lowest, 4.18 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 2002.
That places Zambia 139th out of 171 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in Zambia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 27.82 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1965 | 43.39 constant 2022 US$ per person | +56.0% |
| 1966 | 41.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 1967 | 36.17 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.8% |
| 1968 | 35.87 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 29.17 constant 2022 US$ per person | -18.7% |
| 1970 | 37.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | +30.0% |
| 1971 | 76.65 constant 2022 US$ per person | +102.2% |
| 1972 | 85.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | +11.2% |
| 1973 | 74.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.9% |
| 1974 | 72.8 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 74.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 77.2 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 75.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 81.48 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.4% |
| 1979 | 82.88 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 86.88 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 88.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 75.02 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.8% |
| 1983 | 74.26 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 58.58 constant 2022 US$ per person | -21.1% |
| 1985 | 21.75 constant 2022 US$ per person | -62.9% |
| 1986 | 23.32 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 22.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 24.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 27.54 constant 2022 US$ per person | +14.4% |
| 1990 | 21.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | -20.5% |
| 1991 | 18.82 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.1% |
| 1992 | 18.43 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 13.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | -26.4% |
| 1994 | 12.71 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.3% |
| 1995 | 11.38 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.5% |
| 1996 | 9.55 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.1% |
| 1997 | 10.16 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 10.1 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 10.16 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 5.2 constant 2022 US$ per person | -48.8% |
| 2001 | 4.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | -17.5% |
| 2002 | 4.18 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 4.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 8.32 constant 2022 US$ per person | +80.7% |
| 2005 | 18.97 constant 2022 US$ per person | +127.9% |
| 2006 | 26.03 constant 2022 US$ per person | +37.2% |
| 2007 | 23.32 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.4% |
| 2008 | 23.25 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 21.3 constant 2022 US$ per person | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 22.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 23.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 25.09 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 27.43 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.3% |
| 2014 | 28.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 25.76 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 23.15 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 22.83 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 23.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 23.56 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 20.18 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 19.59 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 19.88 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 35.33 constant 2022 US$ per person, 58% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.8 constant 2022 US$ per person, 98% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita 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 | +127.9% | 8.32 constant 2022 US$ per person | 18.97 constant 2022 US$ per person |
| 1971 | +102.2% | 37.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | 76.65 constant 2022 US$ per person |
| 2004 | +80.7% | 4.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | 8.32 constant 2022 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35.65 constant 2022 US$ per person | 27.82 constant 2022 US$ per person | 43.39 constant 2022 US$ per person | 6 |
| 1970s | 73.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | 37.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | 85.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.24 constant 2022 US$ per person | 21.75 constant 2022 US$ per person | 88.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.68 constant 2022 US$ per person | 9.55 constant 2022 US$ per person | 21.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4.18 constant 2022 US$ per person | 26.03 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | 22.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | 28.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.99 constant 2022 US$ per person | 19.59 constant 2022 US$ per person | 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 136 Uganda 23.63 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 137 Mauritius 23.17 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 138 Chad 21.27 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 140 Lesotho 19.37 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 141 Cameroon 19.21 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 142 Nepal 17.85 constant 2022 US$ per person 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, per capita in Zambia?
- Military spending, per capita in Zambia was 20.33 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 88.08 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1981.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.18 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending, per capita?
- Zambia ranks 139th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.