Arms imports in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Arms imports was 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
World rank
85th
of 173 countries
All-time high
212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1986
All-time low
0 SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1973
Years of data
33
1960–2023
Arms imports in Zimbabwe, 1960–2023
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2023, arms imports in Zimbabwe stood at 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Zimbabwe peaked at 212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1973.
Zimbabwe ranks 85th of 173 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.
Arms imports in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1962 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.0% |
| 1967 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -76.2% |
| 1972 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +320.0% |
| 1973 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 1974 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1975 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2000.0% |
| 1976 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -54.8% |
| 1977 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -78.9% |
| 1978 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +225.0% |
| 1981 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.4% |
| 1982 | 81.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +440.0% |
| 1983 | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.0% |
| 1984 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.2% |
| 1986 | 212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +657.1% |
| 1987 | 29.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -86.3% |
| 1988 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -93.1% |
| 1990 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2250.0% |
| 1992 | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +34.0% |
| 1993 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1999 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2400.0% |
| 2000 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.0% |
| 2001 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.0% |
| 2003 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +60.0% |
| 2004 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +78.6% |
| 2006 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 1.8× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 2.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +2400.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1991 | +2250.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1975 | +2000.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1986 | +657.1% | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
| 1970s | 13.25 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 1980s | 54.25 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 1990s | 23.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 2000s | 16.33 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 2020s | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 82 Iraq 23.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 82 Morocco 23.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 84 Armenia 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 86 Colombia 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 86 Malawi 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 86 Seychelles 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 86 Slovenia 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Zimbabwe
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Zimbabwe?
- Arms imports in Zimbabwe was 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1986.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 1973.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for arms imports?
- Zimbabwe ranks 85th out of 173 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.