Introduction
In Zambia, the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for territorial defense, border security, and providing support to African and UN peacekeeping operations; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency and is involved in socio-economic support; in recent years, ZDF has been directed to assist in agricultural production; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the US
the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025)
the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025)
Security and military information of Zambia
| Military and security service personnel strengths | approximately 16,000 active Defense Forces (2025) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items from other suppliers such as Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025). |
| Military deployments | 930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025). |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2024 | 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) |
All Important Facts about Zambia
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