Military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military spending, per capita was 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe, 1980–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe is 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 33.1% on the previous year and up 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Zimbabwe peaked at 18.51 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.78 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 2010.
Zimbabwe ranks 148th of 161 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 capita in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1981 | 4.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | -21.7% |
| 1982 | 4.49 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 4.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 3.83 constant 2024 US$ per person | -17.9% |
| 1985 | 3.77 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 3.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 3.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 3.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 3.7 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 3.62 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 3.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 2.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | -21.0% |
| 1993 | 2.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | -17.2% |
| 1994 | 2.44 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 2.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.8% |
| 1996 | 2.29 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 2.43 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 3.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | +33.9% |
| 1999 | 3.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 3.96 constant 2024 US$ per person | +24.7% |
| 2001 | 5.19 constant 2024 US$ per person | +30.9% |
| 2002 | 18.51 constant 2024 US$ per person | +256.8% |
| 2003 | 5.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -68.9% |
| 2004 | 3.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | -39.1% |
| 2005 | 2.6 constant 2024 US$ per person | -25.8% |
| 2006 | 2.38 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.6% |
| 2010 | 1.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | -25.0% |
| 2011 | 3.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | +91.7% |
| 2012 | 5.2 constant 2024 US$ per person | +52.1% |
| 2013 | 5.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 5.77 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 5.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 5.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 5.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 5.8 constant 2024 US$ per person | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 5.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.9% |
| 2020 | 6.8 constant 2024 US$ per person | +29.9% |
| 2021 | 12.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | +79.9% |
| 2022 | 10.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 3.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | -62.8% |
| 2024 | 5.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | +49.0% |
| 2025 | 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person | +33.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.14 constant 2024 US$ per person, 28% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.2 constant 2024 US$ per person, 43% of the median. (45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +256.8% | 5.19 constant 2024 US$ per person | 18.51 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.09 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.84 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.98 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2.38 constant 2024 US$ per person | 18.51 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7 |
| 2010s | 4.98 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | 12.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 145 Democratic Republic of Congo 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 146 Guinea-Bissau 9.35 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 147 South Sudan 8.42 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 149 Nigeria 7.39 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 150 Liberia 7.02 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 151 Ethiopia 5.8 constant 2024 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 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 18.51 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2002.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.78 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2010.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military spending, per capita?
- Zimbabwe ranks 148th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.0%. 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 — 43 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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.