Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) by country
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure
Countries reporting
159
Highest
54.0%
Ukraine
Lowest
0.0%
Sierra Leone
Median
5.3%
Years covered
37
1988–2024
Data points
5,811
What the numbers show
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) is currently reported for 159 countries. The highest value is 54.0% in Ukraine; the lowest is 0.0% in Sierra Leone.
The median across all reporting countries is 5.3%, and the mean is 7.8%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 18,036.
Over the past decade 91 countries rose and 68 fell. The largest increase was in Ukraine (up 714.9%), and the largest decrease in Zimbabwe (down 82.0%).
Military expenditure: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 54.0% | 2024 | up 714.9% | volatile |
| 2 | Belarus | 50.7% | 2024 | up 88.8% | rising |
| 3 | Eritrea | 46.4% | 2003 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 4 | Myanmar | 29.1% | 2024 | up 82.6% | rising |
| 5 | Qatar | 26.9% | 2022 | up 448.5% | volatile |
| 6 | Saudi Arabia | 22.3% | 2024 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 7 | Somalia | 21.6% | 2024 | down 46.7% | falling |
| 8 | Algeria | 21.4% | 2024 | up 59.1% | rising |
| 9 | Oman | 20.1% | 2024 | down 5.9% | falling |
| 10 | Singapore | 20.1% | 2024 | down 15.7% | falling |
| 11 | Israel | 20.0% | 2024 | up 35.6% | flat |
| 12 | Russia | 18.9% | 2024 | up 60.5% | rising |
| 13 | Armenia | 18.3% | 2024 | up 11.5% | rising |
| 14 | Chad | 17.2% | 2024 | up 34.8% | volatile |
| 15 | United Arab Emirates | 17.0% | 2014 | down 34.6% | falling |
| 16 | Burkina Faso | 17.0% | 2024 | up 179.5% | falling |
| 17 | Mali | 16.6% | 2024 | up 119.2% | rising |
| 18 | Azerbaijan | 15.2% | 2024 | up 21.6% | rising |
| 19 | Jordan | 14.4% | 2024 | up 21.5% | falling |
| 20 | Yemen | 14.3% | 2014 | down 8.0% | falling |
| 21 | Central African Republic | 14.1% | 2024 | up 25.4% | rising |
| 22 | Pakistan | 13.8% | 2024 | down 20.3% | falling |
| 23 | Niger | 13.8% | 2024 | up 142.0% | rising |
| 24 | Syria | 13.6% | 2010 | down 28.4% | falling |
| 25 | Guinea | 12.8% | 2024 | up 15.2% | rising |
| 26 | Iran | 12.5% | 2024 | down 15.2% | rising |
| 27 | Burundi | 12.5% | 2024 | up 54.8% | falling |
| 28 | Brunei | 12.1% | 2024 | up 33.3% | falling |
| 29 | South Korea | 11.3% | 2024 | down 11.6% | falling |
| 30 | Uzbekistan | 11.1% | 2018 | up 711.0% | volatile |
| 31 | Morocco | 10.7% | 2024 | down 3.7% | falling |
| 32 | Afghanistan | 10.3% | 2021 | up 23.7% | falling |
| 33 | Bahrain | 10.2% | 2024 | down 34.3% | falling |
| 34 | Colombia | 10.1% | 2024 | up 1.8% | falling |
| 35 | Uganda | 10.1% | 2024 | up 45.9% | falling |
| 36 | Kuwait | 9.7% | 2024 | up 21.2% | volatile |
| 37 | Mauritania | 9.6% | 2024 | up 4.6% | falling |
| 38 | Sudan | 9.5% | 2021 | down 67.3% | falling |
| 39 | United States | 9.1% | 2024 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 40 | Djibouti | 9.1% | 2008 | down 40.8% | falling |
| 41 | Lebanon | 8.9% | 2023 | down 37.6% | falling |
| 42 | Vietnam | 8.8% | 2018 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 43 | Cambodia | 8.8% | 2024 | up 14.7% | falling |
| 44 | Poland | 8.5% | 2024 | up 89.5% | rising |
| 45 | Kyrgyzstan | 8.4% | 2024 | down 4.2% | falling |
| 46 | Togo | 8.4% | 2024 | up 41.0% | falling |
| 47 | South Sudan | 8.2% | 2024 | down 65.3% | volatile |
| 48 | Botswana | 8.0% | 2024 | up 30.5% | falling |
| 49 | Lithuania | 7.9% | 2024 | up 206.4% | rising |
| 50 | India | 7.6% | 2024 | down 19.7% | falling |
| 51 | Estonia | 7.5% | 2024 | up 47.2% | rising |
| 52 | Latvia | 7.5% | 2024 | up 200.1% | rising |
| 53 | Tunisia | 7.3% | 2024 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 54 | Sri Lanka | 7.3% | 2022 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 55 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 7.1% | 2024 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 56 | Namibia | 7.1% | 2024 | down 31.1% | falling |
| 57 | Ethiopia | 6.9% | 2024 | up 57.1% | volatile |
| 58 | Bangladesh | 6.9% | 2024 | down 28.6% | falling |
| 59 | Uruguay | 6.8% | 2024 | up 19.0% | falling |
| 60 | Albania | 6.6% | 2024 | up 55.8% | rising |
| 61 | Greece | 6.6% | 2024 | up 43.1% | falling |
| 62 | Gabon | 6.6% | 2024 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 63 | Tajikistan | 6.2% | 2024 | up 51.4% | falling |
| 64 | Mozambique | 6.1% | 2024 | up 152.1% | volatile |
| 65 | Cameroon | 6.1% | 2024 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 66 | Tanzania | 6.1% | 2024 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 67 | Georgia | 6.1% | 2024 | down 27.8% | volatile |
| 68 | Serbia | 6.1% | 2024 | up 38.9% | falling |
| 69 | Romania | 5.9% | 2024 | up 46.6% | falling |
| 70 | Chile | 5.8% | 2024 | down 29.2% | falling |
| 71 | Honduras | 5.8% | 2024 | up 35.0% | rising |
| 72 | Guinea-Bissau | 5.8% | 2023 | down 63.4% | rising |
| 73 | North Macedonia | 5.5% | 2024 | up 61.0% | falling |
| 74 | Bulgaria | 5.5% | 2024 | up 55.4% | falling |
| 75 | Ecuador | 5.5% | 2024 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 76 | Libya | 5.5% | 2023 | down 23.7% | falling |
| 77 | Philippines | 5.4% | 2024 | down 12.1% | falling |
| 78 | Senegal | 5.4% | 2024 | up 3.3% | falling |
| 79 | Congo | 5.4% | 2024 | down 33.6% | rising |
| 80 | United Kingdom | 5.3% | 2024 | down 1.0% | falling |
| 81 | China | 5.1% | 2024 | down 15.4% | falling |
| 82 | Denmark | 5.1% | 2024 | up 142.4% | falling |
| 83 | Australia | 5.0% | 2024 | up 2.9% | falling |
| 84 | Angola | 4.9% | 2024 | down 61.8% | falling |
| 85 | Iraq | 4.9% | 2024 | down 27.8% | rising |
| 86 | Eswatini | 4.8% | 2024 | down 15.3% | falling |
| 88 | Zambia | 4.7% | 2024 | down 29.3% | falling |
| 89 | Equatorial Guinea | 4.7% | 2024 | up 94.6% | rising |
| 90 | Indonesia | 4.6% | 2024 | up 8.7% | falling |
| 91 | Thailand | 4.5% | 2024 | down 27.0% | falling |
| 92 | Norway | 4.5% | 2024 | up 40.1% | falling |
| 93 | Malaysia | 4.5% | 2024 | down 18.1% | falling |
| 94 | Paraguay | 4.5% | 2024 | down 22.4% | volatile |
| 95 | Hungary | 4.4% | 2024 | up 158.7% | rising |
| 96 | Kenya | 4.4% | 2024 | down 13.5% | falling |
| 97 | Netherlands | 4.3% | 2024 | up 76.8% | falling |
| 98 | Czechia | 4.3% | 2024 | up 90.7% | falling |
| 99 | Slovakia | 4.3% | 2024 | up 88.8% | falling |
| 100 | Fiji | 4.3% | 2024 | down 19.5% | falling |
| 101 | Rwanda | 4.2% | 2024 | up 5.6% | volatile |
| 102 | Madagascar | 4.2% | 2024 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 103 | Cyprus | 4.2% | 2024 | up 10.1% | volatile |
| 104 | Montenegro | 4.2% | 2024 | up 25.7% | falling |
| 105 | Sweden | 4.1% | 2024 | up 81.5% | falling |
| 106 | Nepal | 4.1% | 2024 | down 52.5% | falling |
| 107 | Jamaica | 4.1% | 2024 | up 26.8% | rising |
| 108 | Peru | 4.1% | 2024 | down 42.3% | falling |
| 109 | Finland | 4.1% | 2024 | up 59.8% | flat |
| 110 | Dominican Republic | 4.0% | 2024 | up 5.4% | falling |
| 111 | Germany | 3.9% | 2024 | up 55.0% | falling |
| 112 | El Salvador | 3.8% | 2024 | up 2.1% | volatile |
| 113 | Benin | 3.8% | 2024 | down 22.8% | falling |
| 114 | Panama | 3.8% | 1999 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 115 | Belize | 3.8% | 2024 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 116 | Croatia | 3.8% | 2024 | up 0.6% | volatile |
| 117 | Guyana | 3.7% | 2024 | down 10.9% | falling |
| 118 | Bolivia | 3.7% | 2024 | down 16.4% | falling |
| 119 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3.7% | 2024 | down 47.8% | falling |
| 120 | France | 3.6% | 2024 | up 12.6% | falling |
| 121 | Portugal | 3.6% | 2024 | up 41.0% | falling |
| 122 | Malawi | 3.5% | 2024 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 123 | Seychelles | 3.4% | 2024 | down 49.6% | falling |
| 124 | Japan | 3.3% | 2024 | up 30.3% | falling |
| 125 | Liberia | 3.2% | 2024 | up 127.7% | volatile |
| 126 | Spain | 3.2% | 2024 | up 15.5% | falling |
| 127 | Italy | 3.2% | 2024 | up 26.4% | falling |
| 128 | Canada | 3.1% | 2024 | up 19.4% | falling |
| 129 | Nigeria | 3.1% | 2024 | down 1.1% | rising |
| 130 | Mexico | 3.0% | 2024 | up 61.7% | rising |
| 131 | Egypt | 2.9% | 2024 | down 38.1% | falling |
| 132 | New Zealand | 2.8% | 2024 | up 6.7% | falling |
| 133 | Slovenia | 2.7% | 2024 | up 41.1% | falling |
| 134 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2.7% | 2024 | up 39.7% | rising |
| 135 | Guatemala | 2.7% | 2024 | down 13.0% | volatile |
| 136 | East Timor | 2.6% | 2024 | up 43.3% | falling |
| 137 | Lesotho | 2.5% | 2024 | down 32.9% | falling |
| 138 | Gambia | 2.5% | 2024 | down 60.0% | rising |
| 139 | Belgium | 2.4% | 2024 | up 35.2% | falling |
| 140 | Switzerland | 2.3% | 2024 | up 15.3% | falling |
| 141 | South Africa | 2.1% | 2024 | down 39.5% | falling |
| 142 | Brazil | 2.1% | 2024 | down 34.5% | falling |
| 143 | Cape Verde | 2.0% | 2024 | up 15.5% | falling |
| 144 | Mongolia | 2.0% | 2024 | down 24.7% | volatile |
| 145 | Luxembourg | 2.0% | 2024 | up 120.6% | falling |
| 146 | Kazakhstan | 1.9% | 2024 | down 60.4% | falling |
| 147 | Argentina | 1.9% | 2024 | down 14.5% | falling |
| 148 | Nicaragua | 1.9% | 2024 | down 31.9% | falling |
| 149 | Austria | 1.9% | 2024 | up 29.9% | falling |
| 150 | Ghana | 1.8% | 2024 | down 23.8% | falling |
| 151 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1.7% | 2024 | down 22.1% | falling |
| 152 | Haiti | 1.6% | 2024 | up 571.1% | volatile |
| 153 | Moldova | 1.6% | 2024 | up 83.9% | falling |
| 154 | Zimbabwe | 1.3% | 2024 | down 82.0% | falling |
| 155 | Papua New Guinea | 1.3% | 2024 | down 28.0% | falling |
| 156 | Malta | 1.3% | 2024 | up 5.8% | falling |
| 157 | Ireland | 1.0% | 2024 | down 18.6% | falling |
| 158 | Laos | 0.8% | 2013 | down 74.5% | volatile |
| 159 | Mauritius | 0.5% | 2024 | down 26.7% | falling |
| 160 | Sierra Leone | 0.0% | 2024 | down 45.7% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Kosovo 4.8%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 16.9%
- Arab World 16.9%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 16.9%
- IDA blend 14.3%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 11.3%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 11.3%
- Early-demographic dividend 9.8%
- Low income 9.3%
- North America 8.5%
- IDA total 7.8%
- South Asia 7.6%
About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure