Zambia Military Spending
Zambia spends an estimated 1.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $343 million (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1984–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$353 million
Ranked #113 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.3%
Ranked #108 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+2.9%
From $343M in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$369 million
Reached in 1986
How the 2026 figures are produced. Neither figure is a researched budget estimate. The share-of-GDP figure is the arithmetic mean of Zambia’s last 3 reported years (2023–2025), carried across both estimate years unchanged. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 3%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Zambia run to 2025.
Zambia Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Zambia is estimated to have spent $353 million on military and defense, representing 1.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Zambia is the #113 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 2.9%, from $343 million to $353 million. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.2% in 1989. The historical average military budget is 1.8% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 1.31% | $364M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.31% | $353M |
| 2025 | 1.26% | $343M |
| 2024 | 1.33% | $349M |
| 2023 | 1.34% | $328M |
| 2022 | 1.12% | $269M |
| 2021 | 0.98% | $235M |
| 2020 | 1.17% | $256M |
| 2019 | 1.26% | $288M |
| 2018 | 1.44% | $330M |
| 2017 | 1.30% | $287M |
| 2016 | 1.43% | $295M |
| 2015 | 1.75% | $362M |
| 2014 | 1.63% | $338M |
| 2013 | 1.36% | $275M |
| 2012 | 1.36% | $255M |
| 2011 | 1.32% | $229M |
| 2010 | 1.38% | $218M |
| 2009 | 1.73% | $196M |
| 2008 | 2.08% | $208M |
| 2007 | 2.06% | $209M |
| 2006 | 1.74% | $184M |
| 2005 | 1.85% | $169M |
| 2004 | 1.58% | $151M |
| 1999 | 1.65% | $115M |
| 1997 | 1.01% | $77M |
| 1996 | 1.05% | $77M |
| 1995 | 1.45% | $115M |
| 1994 | 1.72% | $137M |
| 1993 | 1.43% | $116M |
| 1992 | 2.71% | $240M |
| 1991 | 2.34% | $211M |
| 1990 | 3.41% | $316M |
| 1989 | 4.20% | $358M |
| 1988 | 2.39% | $248M |
| 1987 | 3.22% | $333M |
| 1986 | 3.66% | $369M |
| 1985 | 2.36% | $200M |
| 1984 | 3.00% | $248M |