Military expenditure in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military expenditure was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.4%
Change on year
up 67.4%
World rank
159th
of 164 countries
All-time high
8.5%
in 1979
All-time low
0.2%
in 2023
Years of data
57
1964–2024
Military expenditure in Zimbabwe, 1964–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Zimbabwe is 0.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 67.4% on the previous year and down 81.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Zimbabwe peaked at 8.5% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2023.
Zimbabwe ranks 159th of 164 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 expenditure in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 1.0% | — |
| 1965 | 1.2% | +14.5% |
| 1966 | 1.3% | +11.2% |
| 1967 | 1.4% | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 2.1% | +52.1% |
| 1969 | 2.4% | +17.1% |
| 1970 | 2.4% | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 2.3% | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 2.2% | -4.6% |
| 1973 | 2.6% | +20.3% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +13.4% |
| 1975 | 3.4% | +14.2% |
| 1976 | 4.6% | +36.1% |
| 1977 | 6.5% | +41.3% |
| 1978 | 8.0% | +22.2% |
| 1979 | 8.5% | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 6.6% | -22.2% |
| 1981 | 4.9% | -26.6% |
| 1982 | 5.1% | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 5.6% | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 5.8% | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 5.2% | -10.6% |
| 1989 | 4.9% | -5.3% |
| 1990 | 4.1% | -16.8% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 3.8% | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | -13.2% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | -5.6% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 2.9% | -9.4% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 2.2% | -25.4% |
| 2000 | 3.1% | +36.4% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -16.5% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +147.3% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | -67.7% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | +33.0% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | -46.3% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | +36.7% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -58.9% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +72.4% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | +32.1% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -15.5% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -19.9% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -44.6% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | +49.3% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | +60.8% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | -36.5% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -78.9% |
| 2024 | 0.4% | +67.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.6% | 1.0% | 2.4% | 6 |
| 1970s | 4.4% | 2.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.5% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 2.2% | 4.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 1.5% | 6.3% | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 0.7% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.2% | 1.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More public sector data for Zimbabwe
- 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)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 5.92 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0024 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate -88.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 98.39 million current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 51.7 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Zimbabwe?
- Military expenditure in Zimbabwe was 0.4% in 2024, 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 8.5% in 1979.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2023.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military expenditure?
- Zimbabwe ranks 159th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.4%. 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product