Military expenditure in Zambia

Zambia: Military expenditure was 4.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
4.7%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
89th
of 161 countries
All-time high
8.3%
in 2007
All-time low
3.2%
in 2021
Years of data
21
2004–2024

Military expenditure in Zambia, 2004–2024

024682004201420242004: 6.8 % of general government expenditure2005: 7.5 % of general government expenditure2006: 8.2 % of general government expenditure2007: 8.3 % of general government expenditure2008: 8 % of general government expenditure2009: 8.1 % of general government expenditure2010: 7.7 % of general government expenditure2011: 6.7 % of general government expenditure2012: 6.2 % of general government expenditure2013: 5.7 % of general government expenditure2014: 6.7 % of general government expenditure2015: 6.3 % of general government expenditure2016: 6 % of general government expenditure2017: 5.2 % of general government expenditure2018: 5.2 % of general government expenditure2019: 4.2 % of general government expenditure2020: 3.4 % of general government expenditure2021: 3.2 % of general government expenditure2022: 4 % of general government expenditure2023: 4.7 % of general government expenditure2024: 4.7 % of general government expenditure

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military expenditure in Zambia is 4.7%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 29.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Zambia peaked at 8.3% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2021.

That places Zambia 89th out of 161 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Military expenditure in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Zambia, 2004 to 2024.
Year % of general government expenditure Change
2004 6.8%
2005 7.5% +9.8%
2006 8.2% +9.9%
2007 8.3% +1.2%
2008 8.0% -3.8%
2009 8.1% +1.5%
2010 7.7% -5.5%
2011 6.7% -11.8%
2012 6.2% -7.9%
2013 5.7% -8.9%
2014 6.7% +18.7%
2015 6.3% -5.6%
2016 6.0% -5.8%
2017 5.2% -12.8%
2018 5.2% -0.5%
2019 4.2% -18.8%
2020 3.4% -18.7%
2021 3.2% -6.0%
2022 4.0% +23.0%
2023 4.7% +18.5%
2024 4.7% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.8% 6.8% 8.3% 6
2010s 6.0% 4.2% 7.7% 10
2020s 4.0% 3.2% 4.7% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 86 Eswatini 4.8% compare
  2. 87 Kosovo 4.8% compare
  3. 87 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 4.8% compare
  4. 90 Equatorial Guinea 4.7% compare
  5. 91 Indonesia 4.6% compare
  6. 92 Thailand 4.5% compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More public sector data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Zambia?
Military expenditure in Zambia was 4.7% in 2024, 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 8.3% in 2007.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2021.
How does Zambia rank for military expenditure?
Zambia ranks 89th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military expenditure in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-percent-of-general-government-expenditure/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure)
Unit
% of general government expenditure
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
204 places, 5,828 data points, 1988–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure