Military spending, per unit of GDP in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
up 37.0%
World rank
90th
of 170 countries
All-time high
0.222 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1979
All-time low
0.0061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2020
Years of data
59
1965–2023
Military spending, per unit of GDP in Zimbabwe, 1965–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP for military spending, per unit of gdp in 2023.
That represents a change of up 37.0% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in Zimbabwe peaked at 0.222 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.0061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 90th of 170 countries on this measure, 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 unit of GDP in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.0865 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1966 | 0.0956 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.6% |
| 1967 | 0.0968 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 0.0982 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 0.09 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.4% |
| 1970 | 0.0907 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 0.086 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 0.074 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.0% |
| 1973 | 0.076 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 0.0817 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 0.0849 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 0.1122 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +32.2% |
| 1977 | 0.1446 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +28.8% |
| 1978 | 0.1795 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +24.1% |
| 1979 | 0.222 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +23.7% |
| 1980 | 0.1514 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -31.8% |
| 1981 | 0.1081 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -28.6% |
| 1982 | 0.0946 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.5% |
| 1983 | 0.0857 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.4% |
| 1984 | 0.091 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 0.0886 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0979 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0935 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 0.0776 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.9% |
| 1989 | 0.0691 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0603 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.7% |
| 1991 | 0.0592 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 0.0627 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 0.0568 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.4% |
| 1994 | 0.049 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.8% |
| 1995 | 0.0485 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 0.0407 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.1% |
| 1997 | 0.0468 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.0% |
| 1998 | 0.0697 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +48.8% |
| 1999 | 0.0635 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 0.0625 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 0.0695 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.2% |
| 2002 | 0.1649 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +137.4% |
| 2003 | 0.0545 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -67.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0517 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0331 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -36.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0346 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 0.0359 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 0.0403 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.2% |
| 2009 | 0.0175 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -56.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0129 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -26.5% |
| 2011 | 0.0159 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +23.5% |
| 2012 | 0.0196 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.8% |
| 2013 | 0.02 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 0.0209 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 0.02 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 0.0197 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 0.007 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -64.5% |
| 2018 | 0.0099 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +40.9% |
| 2019 | 0.0067 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -32.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0109 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +77.1% |
| 2022 | 0.0118 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +37.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0153 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0159 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per unit of GDP 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 | +137.4% | 0.0695 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1649 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0934 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0865 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0982 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.1152 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.074 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.222 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0958 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0691 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1514 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0557 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0407 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0697 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0564 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0175 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1649 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0152 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0067 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0209 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0112 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 87 Netherlands 0.0164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 88 Portugal 0.0162 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 89 Georgia 0.0162 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 91 Spain 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 92 Fiji 0.016 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 93 Montenegro 0.0158 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in Zimbabwe?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in Zimbabwe was 0.0161 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 0.222 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- Zimbabwe ranks 90th out of 170 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. 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 unit of GDP. 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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.