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Zambia vs. Botswana

Military

ZambiaBotswana
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)Botswana Defence Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (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 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)
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)		2.8% of GDP (2019)

2.8% of GDP (2018)

3% of GDP (2017)

3.4% of GDP (2016)

2.7% 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)the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 9,000 active personnel (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 BDF has a mix of foreign-supplied and mostly older weapons and equipment, largely from Europe and the US; since 2010, France is the leading supplier of armaments to the BDF (2020)

Source: CIA Factbook