Military spending, per unit of GDP in Zambia
Zambia: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per unit of GDP in Zambia, 1984–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, per unit of gdp in Zambia stood at 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.0% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in Zambia peaked at 0.2214 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.0092 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2022.
Zambia ranks 103rd of 160 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 0.0912 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1985 | 0.0887 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 0.2214 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +149.6% |
| 1987 | 0.1468 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -33.7% |
| 1988 | 0.0665 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -54.7% |
| 1989 | 0.0897 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +34.9% |
| 1990 | 0.096 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 0.0625 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -34.9% |
| 1992 | 0.0753 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +20.6% |
| 1993 | 0.0355 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -52.8% |
| 1994 | 0.0374 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0214 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -29.2% |
| 1997 | 0.0179 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.2% |
| 1999 | 0.0338 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +88.3% |
| 2004 | 0.0242 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -28.3% |
| 2005 | 0.0202 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.4% |
| 2006 | 0.0144 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -28.6% |
| 2007 | 0.0148 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 0.0116 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.8% |
| 2009 | 0.0128 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.3% |
| 2010 | 0.0108 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0098 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0098 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 0.0125 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +27.1% |
| 2015 | 0.017 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +36.6% |
| 2016 | 0.0141 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.4% |
| 2017 | 0.0111 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.1% |
| 2018 | 0.0125 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 0.0124 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 0.0141 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0106 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -24.6% |
| 2022 | 0.0092 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.3% |
| 2023 | 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +29.0% |
| 2024 | 0.0138 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.0% |
| 2025 | 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0124 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 95% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per unit of GDP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +149.6% | 0.0887 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2214 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.1174 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0665 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2214 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
| 1990s | 0.0456 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0179 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.096 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.0163 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0116 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0242 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
| 2010s | 0.012 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0098 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.017 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0092 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0141 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 100 South Sudan 0.0124 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 101 Jamaica 0.0123 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 102 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 104 Rwanda 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 105 Seychelles 0.0117 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 106 Congo 0.0116 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in Zambia?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in Zambia was 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2214 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1986.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0092 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2022.
- How does Zambia rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- Zambia ranks 103rd out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. 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 unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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.