Malawi vs Zambia
Malawi vs Zambia: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars in 2025: $128M in Malawi and $343M in Zambia, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Zambia, by $215M, or 2.68 times that in Malawi.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Zambia has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1984.
- In 2025, Malawi ranked 127 and Zambia ranked 109 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Malawi | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $128M | $343M |
| 2024 | $118M | $349M |
| 2023 | $131M | $328M |
| 2022 | $109M | $269M |
| 2021 | $87.1M | $235M |
| 2020 | $96.1M | $256M |
| 2019 | $88.7M | $288M |
| 2018 | $66.2M | $330M |
| 2017 | $60.4M | $287M |
| 2016 | $48.9M | $295M |
| 2015 | $48.1M | $362M |
| 2014 | $60.7M | $338M |
| 2013 | $82M | $275M |
| 2012 | $52.3M | $255M |
| 2011 | $45.6M | $229M |
| 2010 | $44.7M | $218M |
| 2009 | $52.9M | $196M |
| 2008 | $43.2M | $208M |
| 2007 | $35.3M | $209M |
| 2006 | $34.3M | $184M |
| 2005 | $41.9M | $169M |
| 2004 | $25.5M | $151M |
| 2003 | $15.2M | – |
| 2002 | $14.8M | – |
| 2001 | $13.7M | – |
| 2000 | $12.8M | – |
| 1999 | $15.1M | $115M |
| 1998 | $15.5M | – |
| 1997 | $19.4M | $77.1M |
| 1996 | $15M | $77M |
| 1995 | $11.3M | $115M |
| 1994 | $18.3M | $137M |
| 1993 | $18.8M | $116M |
| 1992 | $18.5M | $240M |
| 1991 | $16.7M | $211M |
| 1990 | $18.8M | $316M |
| 1989 | $19.9M | $358M |
| 1988 | $18.4M | $248M |
| 1987 | $22.8M | $333M |
| 1986 | $27.5M | $369M |
| 1985 | $23.2M | $200M |
| 1984 | $20M | $248M |
| 1983 | $23.6M | – |
| 1982 | $29.2M | – |
| 1981 | $38.8M | – |
| 1980 | $54.3M | – |
| 1979 | $56M | – |
| 1978 | $39.7M | – |
| 1977 | $25.7M | – |
| 1976 | $19.8M | – |
| 1975 | $21.3M | – |
| 1974 | $14.1M | – |
| 1973 | $14.4M | – |
| 1972 | $8.56M | – |
| 1971 | $7.99M | – |
| 1970 | $7.59M | – |
| 1969 | $7.65M | – |
| 1968 | $7.71M | – |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malawi vs Zambia
Health
- Life expectancyMalawi: 67.4 years in 2023Zambia: 66.4 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalawi: 4.9 per 100 live births in 2024Zambia: 4.8 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalawi: 29.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023Zambia: 38.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMalawi: 3.45% in 2017Zambia: 3.64% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalawi: 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Zambia: 13.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalawi: 21.1 million people in 2023Zambia: 20.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalawi: 2.57% a year in 2023Zambia: 2.83% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalawi: 3.65 births per woman in 2023Zambia: 4.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalawi: 17.6% in 2025Zambia: 45.9% in 2025
- Median ageMalawi: 17.6 years in 2023Zambia: 17.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalawi: 2.6% in 2023Zambia: 1.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalawi: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023Zambia: 0.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalawi: 1.15% of GDP in 2025Zambia: 1.26% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending per personMalawi: $7 in 2025Zambia: $19 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalawi: 3.8% of government spending in 2025Zambia: 4.5% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMalawi: 15,000 people in 2020Zambia: 16,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalawi: 0.07% of world capability in 2022Zambia: 0.1% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalawi: 0.2% of the labour force in 2020Zambia: 0.24% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalawi: 2 million TIV in 2024Zambia: 1 million TIV in 2024
- Arms exportsMalawi: 1 million TIV in 2000Zambia: 2 million TIV in 1990