Military expenditure (current LCU) in Zambia
Zambia: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 10.24 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10.24 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 12.1%
World rank
104th
of 168 countries
All-time high
10.24 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
148,000 current LCU
in 1984
Years of data
37
1984–2025
Military expenditure in Zambia, 1984–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Zambia is 10.24 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 12.1% on the previous year and up 218.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Zambia peaked at 10.24 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 148,000 current LCU, in 1984.
That places Zambia 104th out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 148,000 current LCU | — |
| 1985 | 167,000 current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1986 | 480,000 current LCU | +187.4% |
| 1987 | 637,000 current LCU | +32.7% |
| 1988 | 717,000 current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1989 | 2.31 million current LCU | +222.9% |
| 1990 | 4.22 million current LCU | +82.3% |
| 1991 | 5.58 million current LCU | +32.1% |
| 1992 | 16.84 million current LCU | +202.0% |
| 1993 | 23.15 million current LCU | +37.5% |
| 1994 | 42.08 million current LCU | +81.8% |
| 1995 | 47.76 million current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1996 | 45.70 million current LCU | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 57.00 million current LCU | +24.7% |
| 1999 | 134.00 million current LCU | +135.1% |
| 2004 | 470.00 million current LCU | +250.7% |
| 2005 | 622.70 million current LCU | +32.5% |
| 2006 | 741.70 million current LCU | +19.1% |
| 2007 | 929.70 million current LCU | +25.3% |
| 2008 | 1.04 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2009 | 1.11 billion current LCU | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 1.34 billion current LCU | +20.5% |
| 2011 | 1.50 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2012 | 1.78 billion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 2013 | 2.06 billion current LCU | +15.4% |
| 2014 | 2.73 billion current LCU | +32.6% |
| 2015 | 3.22 billion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 2016 | 3.09 billion current LCU | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 3.20 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 3.96 billion current LCU | +23.4% |
| 2019 | 3.77 billion current LCU | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 3.88 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 4.34 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2022 | 5.52 billion current LCU | +27.0% |
| 2023 | 7.46 billion current LCU | +35.3% |
| 2024 | 9.13 billion current LCU | +22.4% |
| 2025 | 10.24 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 10.24 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 8% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 10.24 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 8% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +250.7% | 134.00 million current LCU | 470.00 million current LCU |
| 1989 | +222.9% | 717,000 current LCU | 2.31 million current LCU |
| 1992 | +202.0% | 5.58 million current LCU | 16.84 million current LCU |
| 1986 | +187.4% | 167,000 current LCU | 480,000 current LCU |
| 1999 | +135.1% | 57.00 million current LCU | 134.00 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 744,000 current LCU | 148,000 current LCU | 2.31 million current LCU | 6 |
| 1990s | 41.81 million current LCU | 4.22 million current LCU | 134.00 million current LCU | 9 |
| 2000s | 820.10 million current LCU | 470.00 million current LCU | 1.11 billion current LCU | 6 |
| 2010s | 2.67 billion current LCU | 1.34 billion current LCU | 3.96 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.76 billion current LCU | 3.88 billion current LCU | 10.24 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 101 Guinea-Bissau 13.00 billion current LCU compare
- 102 Belgium 12.88 billion current LCU compare
- 103 Mauritania 12.81 billion current LCU compare
- 105 Peru 9.27 billion current LCU compare
- 106 Azerbaijan 8.40 billion current LCU compare
- 107 Botswana 8.34 billion current LCU compare
More public sector data for Zambia
- 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)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.0469 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -80 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Zambia?
- Military expenditure in Zambia was 10.24 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.24 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 148,000 current LCU in 1984.
- How does Zambia rank for military expenditure?
- Zambia ranks 104th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 218.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)