Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 1.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Zimbabwe, 2005–2024
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 Zimbabwe is 1.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.3% on the previous year and down 82.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Zimbabwe peaked at 12.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2023.
Zimbabwe ranks 157th of 164 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5.3% | — |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -25.2% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +101.9% |
| 2012 | 12.7% | +60.4% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | -44.0% |
| 2014 | 7.4% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 5.6% | -17.7% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 6.6% | +20.5% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | +16.8% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | -47.8% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -71.0% |
| 2024 | 1.3% | +13.3% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 1.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 23% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 1.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9%, 23% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 3.9% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 1.2% | 7.7% | 5 |
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 1.3% 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 12.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2023.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for military expenditure?
- Zimbabwe ranks 157th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 82.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure