Home

Namibia vs. Zambia

Military

NamibiaZambia
Military branchesNamibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force; Namibian Police Force: Special Field Force (paramilitary unit responsible for protecting borders and government installations) (2021)Zambia 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)
Military service age and obligation18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021)18-25 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)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP3% of GDP (2019)

3.2% of GDP (2018)

3.4% of GDP (2017)

3.9% of GDP (2016)

4.5% of GDP (2015)
1.2% of GDP (2019)

1.3% of GDP (2018)

1.3% of GDP (2017)

1.5% of GDP (2016)

1.7% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengthsinformation varies; approximately 12,500 personnel (11,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2020)the Zambia Defense Force (ZDF) has approximately 16,500 active troops (15,000 Army; 1,500 Air) (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitionsthe inventory of the Namibian Defense Force consists mostly of Soviet-era equipment; China is the leading supplier of weapons to Namibia since 2010 (2020)the 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)

Source: CIA Factbook