Military spending in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military spending was 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
133.49 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 35.7%
World rank
134th
of 162 countries
All-time high
223.69 million constant 2024 US$
in 2002
All-time low
23.81 million constant 2024 US$
in 2010
Years of data
43
1980–2025
Military spending in Zimbabwe, 1980–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending in Zimbabwe stood at 133.49 million constant 2024 US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.7% on the previous year and up 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Zimbabwe peaked at 223.69 million constant 2024 US$ in 2002 and was at its lowest, 23.81 million constant 2024 US$, in 2010.
Zimbabwe ranks 134th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 37.61 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1981 | 31.36 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.6% |
| 1982 | 35.00 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1983 | 37.73 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 32.11 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.9% |
| 1985 | 32.79 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 32.78 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 33.35 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 34.94 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 36.48 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 36.67 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 38.14 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 30.99 million constant 2024 US$ | -18.8% |
| 1993 | 26.02 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.0% |
| 1994 | 26.56 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 24.44 million constant 2024 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 25.58 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 27.58 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 37.65 million constant 2024 US$ | +36.5% |
| 1999 | 37.44 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 47.11 million constant 2024 US$ | +25.8% |
| 2001 | 62.10 million constant 2024 US$ | +31.8% |
| 2002 | 223.69 million constant 2024 US$ | +260.2% |
| 2003 | 70.39 million constant 2024 US$ | -68.5% |
| 2004 | 43.33 million constant 2024 US$ | -38.4% |
| 2005 | 32.47 million constant 2024 US$ | -25.1% |
| 2006 | 30.05 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
| 2010 | 23.81 million constant 2024 US$ | -20.7% |
| 2011 | 46.46 million constant 2024 US$ | +95.1% |
| 2012 | 71.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +54.6% |
| 2013 | 79.23 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2014 | 81.94 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 85.92 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 82.97 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 78.19 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 87.27 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.6% |
| 2019 | 79.90 million constant 2024 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2020 | 105.51 million constant 2024 US$ | +32.1% |
| 2021 | 193.13 million constant 2024 US$ | +83.1% |
| 2022 | 171.64 million constant 2024 US$ | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 64.89 million constant 2024 US$ | -62.2% |
| 2024 | 98.39 million constant 2024 US$ | +51.6% |
| 2025 | 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ | +35.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 557.82 million constant 2024 US$, 24% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 336.91 million constant 2024 US$, 40% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +260.2% | 62.10 million constant 2024 US$ | 223.69 million constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.41 million constant 2024 US$ | 31.36 million constant 2024 US$ | 37.73 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.11 million constant 2024 US$ | 24.44 million constant 2024 US$ | 38.14 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.74 million constant 2024 US$ | 30.05 million constant 2024 US$ | 223.69 million constant 2024 US$ | 7 |
| 2010s | 71.76 million constant 2024 US$ | 23.81 million constant 2024 US$ | 87.27 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 127.84 million constant 2024 US$ | 64.89 million constant 2024 US$ | 193.13 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 131 Turkmenistan 188.18 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 132 Burundi 169.28 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 133 Montenegro 162.78 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 135 Malawi 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 136 Malta 116.81 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 137 Nicaragua 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ 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)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Zimbabwe?
- Military spending in Zimbabwe was 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 223.69 million constant 2024 US$ in 2002.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.81 million constant 2024 US$ in 2010.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military spending?
- Zimbabwe ranks 134th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.