Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Zambia
Zambia: Military expenditure (current USD), per capita was 16.4 current USD per person in 2024. ▲ Rising
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Zambia, 1984–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per person.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Zambia stood at 16.4 current USD per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Zambia peaked at 27.91 current USD per person in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.2 current USD per person, in 1996.
That places Zambia 135th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current USD per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 12.4 current USD per person | — |
| 1985 | 7.84 current USD per person | -36.8% |
| 1986 | 8.82 current USD per person | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 9.31 current USD per person | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 11.74 current USD per person | +26.1% |
| 1989 | 22.08 current USD per person | +88.2% |
| 1990 | 17.89 current USD per person | -19.0% |
| 1991 | 10.81 current USD per person | -39.6% |
| 1992 | 11.96 current USD per person | +10.6% |
| 1993 | 6.11 current USD per person | -48.9% |
| 1994 | 7.33 current USD per person | +20.1% |
| 1995 | 6.29 current USD per person | -14.2% |
| 1996 | 4.2 current USD per person | -33.2% |
| 1997 | 4.69 current USD per person | +11.7% |
| 1999 | 5.76 current USD per person | +22.7% |
| 2004 | 8.67 current USD per person | +50.6% |
| 2005 | 11.9 current USD per person | +37.2% |
| 2006 | 16.97 current USD per person | +42.6% |
| 2007 | 18.49 current USD per person | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 21.35 current USD per person | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 16.38 current USD per person | -23.3% |
| 2010 | 20.06 current USD per person | +22.5% |
| 2011 | 21.41 current USD per person | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 23.22 current USD per person | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 24.76 current USD per person | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 27.91 current USD per person | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 22.71 current USD per person | -18.6% |
| 2016 | 17.71 current USD per person | -22.0% |
| 2017 | 19.47 current USD per person | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 21.03 current USD per person | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 15.78 current USD per person | -25.0% |
| 2020 | 11.13 current USD per person | -29.4% |
| 2021 | 11.1 current USD per person | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 16.18 current USD per person | +45.8% |
| 2023 | 18.2 current USD per person | +12.5% |
| 2024 | 16.4 current USD per person | -9.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 16.4 current USD per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.8 current USD per person, 69% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 16.4 current USD per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.42 current USD per person, 89% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.03 current USD per person | 7.84 current USD per person | 22.08 current USD per person | 6 |
| 1990s | 8.34 current USD per person | 4.2 current USD per person | 17.89 current USD per person | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.63 current USD per person | 8.67 current USD per person | 21.35 current USD per person | 6 |
| 2010s | 21.41 current USD per person | 15.78 current USD per person | 27.91 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6 current USD per person | 11.1 current USD per person | 18.2 current USD per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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)
- 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 6 (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 military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Zambia?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Zambia was 16.4 current USD per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.91 current USD per person in 2014.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2 current USD per person in 1996.
- How does Zambia rank for military expenditure (current usd), per capita?
- Zambia ranks 135th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per capita rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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 expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.