Rwanda vs Zambia
Rwanda vs Zambia: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars in 2025: $194M in Rwanda and $343M in Zambia, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Zambia, by $149M, or 1.77 times that in Rwanda.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Zambia has been higher since 1999, when it overtook Rwanda.
- In 2025, Rwanda ranked 120 and Zambia ranked 109 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Rwanda | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $194M | $343M |
| 2024 | $175M | $349M |
| 2023 | $161M | $328M |
| 2022 | $169M | $269M |
| 2021 | $180M | $235M |
| 2020 | $153M | $256M |
| 2019 | $133M | $288M |
| 2018 | $126M | $330M |
| 2017 | $118M | $287M |
| 2016 | $113M | $295M |
| 2015 | $106M | $362M |
| 2014 | $90.5M | $338M |
| 2013 | $79.7M | $275M |
| 2012 | $77.6M | $255M |
| 2011 | $79M | $229M |
| 2010 | $78.2M | $218M |
| 2009 | $76.8M | $196M |
| 2008 | $75M | $208M |
| 2007 | $71.1M | $209M |
| 2006 | $76.8M | $184M |
| 2005 | $69.8M | $169M |
| 2004 | $72.1M | $151M |
| 2003 | $82.6M | – |
| 2002 | $88.8M | – |
| 2001 | $93.9M | – |
| 2000 | $92.1M | – |
| 1999 | $108M | $115M |
| 1998 | $106M | – |
| 1997 | $96.7M | $77.1M |
| 1996 | $105M | $77M |
| 1995 | $73.9M | $115M |
| 1994 | $43.8M | $137M |
| 1993 | $128M | $116M |
| 1992 | $132M | $240M |
| 1991 | $161M | $211M |
| 1990 | $116M | $316M |
| 1989 | $50.8M | $358M |
| 1988 | $43.1M | $248M |
| 1987 | $45.5M | $333M |
| 1986 | $50.4M | $369M |
| 1985 | $45M | $200M |
| 1984 | $42.4M | $248M |
| 1983 | $47.1M | – |
| 1982 | $48.9M | – |
| 1981 | $52.5M | – |
| 1980 | $45.3M | – |
| 1979 | $40.8M | – |
| 1978 | $35.7M | – |
| 1977 | $48.4M | – |
| 1976 | $35.7M | – |
| 1975 | $32.9M | – |
| 1974 | $36.1M | – |
| 1973 | $51.3M | – |
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
Rwanda vs Zambia
Health
- Life expectancyRwanda: 67.8 years in 2023Zambia: 66.4 years in 2023
- Child mortalityRwanda: 3.8 per 100 live births in 2024Zambia: 4.8 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityRwanda: 27.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023Zambia: 38.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionRwanda: 3.87% in 2017Zambia: 3.64% in 2017
- Suicide rateRwanda: 11 per 100,000 people in 2017Zambia: 13.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationRwanda: 14 million people in 2023Zambia: 20.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthRwanda: 2.18% a year in 2023Zambia: 2.83% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateRwanda: 3.7 births per woman in 2023Zambia: 4.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationRwanda: 30.9% in 2025Zambia: 45.9% in 2025
- Median ageRwanda: 19.4 years in 2023Zambia: 17.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overRwanda: 3.8% in 2023Zambia: 1.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateRwanda: -0.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Zambia: 0.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingRwanda: 1.29% of GDP in 2025Zambia: 1.26% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending per personRwanda: $13 in 2025Zambia: $19 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingRwanda: 4.7% of government spending in 2025Zambia: 4.5% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelRwanda: 35,000 people in 2020Zambia: 16,000 people in 2020
- National powerRwanda: 0.07% of world capability in 2022Zambia: 0.1% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersRwanda: 0.7% of the labour force in 2020Zambia: 0.24% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsRwanda: 37 million TIV in 2023Zambia: 1 million TIV in 2024