Military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military spending, per capita was 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe, 1965–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe stood at 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.5% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe peaked at 172.98 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1979 and was at its lowest, 11.63 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 2010.
That places Zimbabwe 125th out of 171 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, per capita in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 25.44 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1966 | 26.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1967 | 28.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 1968 | 29.68 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 1969 | 31.11 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 32.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 34.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 35.75 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 43.98 constant 2022 US$ per person | +23.0% |
| 1974 | 55.12 constant 2022 US$ per person | +25.3% |
| 1975 | 60.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.5% |
| 1976 | 77.14 constant 2022 US$ per person | +26.7% |
| 1977 | 97.92 constant 2022 US$ per person | +26.9% |
| 1978 | 119.45 constant 2022 US$ per person | +22.0% |
| 1979 | 172.98 constant 2022 US$ per person | +44.8% |
| 1980 | 143.69 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.9% |
| 1981 | 115.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | -19.5% |
| 1982 | 103.67 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.3% |
| 1983 | 82.18 constant 2022 US$ per person | -20.7% |
| 1984 | 68.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.1% |
| 1985 | 57.55 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.5% |
| 1986 | 67.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | +17.8% |
| 1987 | 67.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 63.34 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.7% |
| 1989 | 58.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | -8.3% |
| 1990 | 52.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.0% |
| 1991 | 49.2 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 39.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | -19.6% |
| 1993 | 34.35 constant 2022 US$ per person | -13.2% |
| 1994 | 31.06 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.6% |
| 1995 | 31.44 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 31.22 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 35.15 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.6% |
| 1998 | 38.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 1999 | 36.99 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 35.15 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 39.35 constant 2022 US$ per person | +11.9% |
| 2002 | 86.56 constant 2022 US$ per person | +120.0% |
| 2003 | 25.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | -70.5% |
| 2004 | 24.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 15.25 constant 2022 US$ per person | -37.2% |
| 2006 | 14.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 14.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 13.73 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 2009 | 12.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 11.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 16.53 constant 2022 US$ per person | +42.1% |
| 2012 | 24.24 constant 2022 US$ per person | +46.6% |
| 2013 | 27.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 28.68 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 27.72 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 27.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 24.09 constant 2022 US$ per person | -13.3% |
| 2018 | 22.38 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 14.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | -34.6% |
| 2020 | 12.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 28.45 constant 2022 US$ per person | +124.7% |
| 2022 | 29.87 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person | +18.5% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 35.33 constant 2022 US$ per person, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.8 constant 2022 US$ per person, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita 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 | +124.7% | 12.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | 28.45 constant 2022 US$ per person |
| 2002 | +120.0% | 39.35 constant 2022 US$ per person | 86.56 constant 2022 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.28 constant 2022 US$ per person | 25.44 constant 2022 US$ per person | 31.11 constant 2022 US$ per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 73.09 constant 2022 US$ per person | 32.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | 172.98 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 82.87 constant 2022 US$ per person | 57.55 constant 2022 US$ per person | 143.69 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.97 constant 2022 US$ per person | 31.06 constant 2022 US$ per person | 52.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.25 constant 2022 US$ per person | 12.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | 86.56 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | 11.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | 28.68 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | 12.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 122 East Timor 41.35 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 123 Togo 38.24 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 124 Mali 36.77 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 126 Guinea 35.25 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 127 Burkina Faso 34.47 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 128 Moldova 33.52 constant 2022 US$ per person 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 capita in Zimbabwe?
- Military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe was 35.41 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 172.98 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.63 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2010.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military spending, per capita?
- Zimbabwe ranks 125th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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 — 59 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.