Home

Zambia vs. Malawi

Military

ZambiaMalawi
Military branchesZambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization that also does public work projects); Defense Force Medical Service; the Zambia Police includes a paramilitary battalion (2021)Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Army (includes marine unit), Air Force (established as a separate service August 2019; previously was an air wing under the Army) (2021)
Military service age and obligation18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 with parental consent); no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2019)18 years of age for voluntary military service; high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2021)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP1.2% of GDP (2019)

1.3% of GDP (2018)

1.3% of GDP (2017)

1.5% of GDP (2016)

1.7% of GDP (2015)
0.9% of GDP (2019)

0.9% of GDP (2018)

0.7% of GDP (2017)

0.6% of GDP (2016)

0.6% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengthsthe Zambia Defense Force (ZDF) has approximately 16,500 active troops (15,000 Army; 1,500 Air) (2020)information varies; approximately 8,000 total personnel (including about 200 air and 200 marine forces) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitionsthe ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era armaments, with a small mix of Israeli, South African, and US equipment; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to Zambia (2020)the Malawi Defense Force inventory is comprised of mostly obsolescent or second-hand equipment from Europe and South Africa; since 2010, it has taken deliveries of limited amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the UK, as well as non-lethal equipment donated by the US (2020)
Military deployments920 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (Jan 2021)700 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (Jan 2021)

Source: CIA Factbook