Military spending, per square kilometre in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending, per square kilometre was 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Military spending, per square kilometre in Zambia, 1984–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, per square kilometre in Zambia stood at 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.0% on the previous year and up 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per square kilometre in Zambia peaked at 495.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 1986 and was at its lowest, 103.52 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, in 1996.
That places Zambia 143rd out of 161 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Military spending, per square kilometre in Zambia, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 333.5 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1985 | 268.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -19.4% |
| 1986 | 495.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +84.5% |
| 1987 | 447.45 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -9.8% |
| 1988 | 333.53 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -25.5% |
| 1989 | 482.03 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +44.5% |
| 1990 | 424.44 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -11.9% |
| 1991 | 283.71 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -33.2% |
| 1992 | 322.43 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +13.6% |
| 1993 | 156.49 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -51.5% |
| 1994 | 184.01 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +17.6% |
| 1995 | 154.76 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -15.9% |
| 1996 | 103.52 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -33.1% |
| 1997 | 103.77 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 154.6 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +49.0% |
| 2004 | 202.46 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +31.0% |
| 2005 | 226.7 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +12.0% |
| 2006 | 247.68 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 280.56 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 279.51 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 263.89 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 293.18 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 307.94 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 342.78 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 369.89 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 455.11 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +23.0% |
| 2015 | 486.87 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 396.82 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -18.5% |
| 2017 | 386.31 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 443.59 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +14.8% |
| 2019 | 387.61 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 344.32 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 316.1 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -8.2% |
| 2022 | 361.65 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +14.4% |
| 2023 | 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +22.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,220 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, 20% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,042 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, 42% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 393.52 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 268.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 495.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 6 |
| 1990s | 209.75 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 103.52 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 424.44 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2000s | 250.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 202.46 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 280.56 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 6 |
| 2010s | 387.01 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 293.18 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 486.87 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 365.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 316.1 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 140 Guyana 539.03 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 141 Mozambique 534.6 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 142 Kazakhstan 457.32 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 144 Namibia 431.89 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 145 Turkmenistan 400.44 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 146 Democratic Republic of Congo 336.58 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre 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 square kilometre in Zambia?
- Military spending, per square kilometre in Zambia was 441.13 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 495.8 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 1986.
- What is the lowest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 103.52 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 1996.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending, per square kilometre?
- Zambia ranks 143rd out of 161 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per square kilometre rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.