Military expenditure (current LCU) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 10.61 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10.61 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 191.6%
World rank
11th
of 168 countries
All-time high
10.61 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
15.60 million current LCU
in 1965
Years of data
59
1964–2025
Military expenditure in Zimbabwe, 1964–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Zimbabwe stood at 10.61 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 59 years on record.
The figure is up 191.6% on the previous year and up 2,816,330.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Zimbabwe peaked at 10.61 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 15.60 million current LCU, in 1965.
That places Zimbabwe 11th out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 12.65 million current LCU | — |
| 1965 | 15.60 million current LCU | +23.3% |
| 1966 | 16.95 million current LCU | +8.7% |
| 1967 | 19.00 million current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1968 | 30.60 million current LCU | +61.1% |
| 1969 | 42.35 million current LCU | +38.4% |
| 1970 | 45.95 million current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1971 | 49.85 million current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1972 | 58.45 million current LCU | +17.3% |
| 1973 | 86.90 million current LCU | +48.7% |
| 1974 | 118.55 million current LCU | +36.4% |
| 1975 | 148.60 million current LCU | +25.3% |
| 1976 | 199.80 million current LCU | +34.5% |
| 1977 | 285.35 million current LCU | +42.8% |
| 1978 | 347.75 million current LCU | +21.9% |
| 1979 | 441.15 million current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1980 | 442.75 million current LCU | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 389.70 million current LCU | -12.0% |
| 1982 | 437.45 million current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1983 | 431.75 million current LCU | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 360.65 million current LCU | -16.5% |
| 1985 | 309.30 million current LCU | -14.2% |
| 1986 | 342.20 million current LCU | +10.6% |
| 1987 | 392.60 million current LCU | +14.7% |
| 1988 | 407.05 million current LCU | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 408.60 million current LCU | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 416.30 million current LCU | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 376.05 million current LCU | -9.7% |
| 1992 | 296.35 million current LCU | -21.2% |
| 1993 | 249.80 million current LCU | -15.7% |
| 1994 | 247.90 million current LCU | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 262.90 million current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 291.65 million current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1997 | 311.40 million current LCU | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 306.00 million current LCU | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 263.40 million current LCU | -13.9% |
| 2000 | 346.30 million current LCU | +31.5% |
| 2001 | 286.70 million current LCU | -17.2% |
| 2002 | 677.00 million current LCU | +136.1% |
| 2003 | 194.80 million current LCU | -71.2% |
| 2004 | 256.10 million current LCU | +31.5% |
| 2005 | 131.40 million current LCU | -48.7% |
| 2006 | 161.70 million current LCU | +23.1% |
| 2010 | 98.29 million current LCU | -39.2% |
| 2011 | 198.44 million current LCU | +101.9% |
| 2012 | 318.27 million current LCU | +60.4% |
| 2013 | 356.70 million current LCU | +12.1% |
| 2014 | 368.10 million current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 376.68 million current LCU | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 358.06 million current LCU | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 340.52 million current LCU | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 420.36 million current LCU | +23.4% |
| 2019 | 1.37 billion current LCU | +225.3% |
| 2020 | 11.87 billion current LCU | +767.9% |
| 2021 | 43.13 billion current LCU | +263.4% |
| 2022 | 112.46 billion current LCU | +160.7% |
| 2023 | 326.24 billion current LCU | +190.1% |
| 2024 | 3.64 trillion current LCU | +1015.0% |
| 2025 | 10.61 trillion current LCU | +191.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 10.61 trillion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 87.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 10.61 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 86.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +1015.0% | 326.24 billion current LCU | 3.64 trillion current LCU |
| 2020 | +767.9% | 1.37 billion current LCU | 11.87 billion current LCU |
| 2021 | +263.4% | 11.87 billion current LCU | 43.13 billion current LCU |
| 2019 | +225.3% | 420.36 million current LCU | 1.37 billion current LCU |
| 2025 | +191.6% | 3.64 trillion current LCU | 10.61 trillion current LCU |
| 2023 | +190.1% | 112.46 billion current LCU | 326.24 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.86 million current LCU | 12.65 million current LCU | 42.35 million current LCU | 6 |
| 1970s | 178.24 million current LCU | 45.95 million current LCU | 441.15 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 392.20 million current LCU | 309.30 million current LCU | 442.75 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 302.18 million current LCU | 247.90 million current LCU | 416.30 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 293.43 million current LCU | 131.40 million current LCU | 677.00 million current LCU | 7 |
| 2010s | 420.28 million current LCU | 98.29 million current LCU | 1.37 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.46 trillion current LCU | 11.87 billion current LCU | 10.61 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
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)
- 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 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 1.22 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0006 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2006)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Zimbabwe?
- Military expenditure in Zimbabwe was 10.61 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 10.61 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.60 million current LCU in 1965.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military expenditure?
- Zimbabwe ranks 11th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,816,330.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)