Military expenditure in Nigeria
Nigeria: Military expenditure was 1.13 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Nigeria, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Nigeria is 1.13 billion current USD, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 63.5% on the previous year and down 51.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Nigeria peaked at 4.47 billion current USD in 2021 and was at its lowest, 23.38 million current USD, in 1960.
Nigeria ranks 83rd of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 160.52 million current USD | 23.38 million current USD | 684.46 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.95 billion current USD | 639.26 million current USD | 3.14 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.19 billion current USD | 170.71 million current USD | 3.03 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 510.45 million current USD | 173.66 million current USD | 1.15 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 860.53 million current USD | 368.64 million current USD | 1.62 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.08 billion current USD | 1.62 billion current USD | 2.42 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.88 billion current USD | 1.13 billion current USD | 4.47 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 80 Tunisia 1.31 billion current USD compare
- 81 Kenya 1.23 billion current USD compare
- 82 Kazakhstan 1.21 billion current USD compare
- 84 Uganda 1.12 billion current USD compare
- 85 Burkina Faso 1.02 billion current USD compare
- 86 Dominican Republic 980.99 million current USD compare
More public sector data for Nigeria
- Arms imports 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure 0.6% (2024)
- Armed forces personnel, total 223,000 (2020)
- Armed forces personnel 0.2% (2020)
- Statistical performance indicators (SPI): Pillar 1 data use score 100 scale 0-100 (2024)
- Statistical performance indicators (SPI): Pillar 3 data products score 74.86 scale 0-100 (2024)
- Military expenditure 1.68 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments 4.2% (2025)
- Military expenditure 3.1% (2024)
- Internally displaced persons, new displacement associated with disaste 166,000 number of cases (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Nigeria?
- Military expenditure in Nigeria was 1.13 billion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 4.47 billion current USD in 2021.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.38 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for military expenditure?
- Nigeria ranks 83rd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)