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Military spending
What this indicator measures
What the country spends on its armed forces, compared with its wealth.
How to read this?
The higher it is, the bigger the defense effort relative to the economy.
Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest
In brief
Military spending: across 165 countries and territories, values range from 0 % (Panama) to 39.6 % (Ukraine), with a world median of 1.8 %. Data: 1999–2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 3.9 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 0.6 %. By continent, the median is highest in Asia (2.4 %) and lowest in North America (0.9 %).
Median by continent
- Asia 2.4 % (44)
- Europe 2 % (40)
- Africa 1.4 % (49)
- Oceania 1.2 % (4)
- South America 1.2 % (11)
- North America 0.9 % (15)
Why this indicator matters
This indicator shows how much effort a country devotes to its military relative to its wealth. It lets you compare countries of very different sizes on an equal footing. It sheds light on budget priorities and the security context.
What makes this indicator vary
Tensions with neighbors, ongoing conflicts and military alliances push spending up. Wealth and political choices also matter: a country may prioritize health or education. The end of a war or a calmer climate often brings it down.
Reading precautions
The share is calculated as a percentage of GDP, so a small budget can look high in a small economy. Not all countries report their spending the same way, and some secret or indirect spending is poorly counted.
Full ranking
ranked from highest to lowest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 39.6 % | 2025 |
| 2e | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 20.9 % | 2003 |
| 3e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 8.8 % | 2025 |
| 4e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 7.8 % | 2025 |
| 5e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 7.5 % | 2025 |
| 6e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 6.6 % | 2024 |
| 7e | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 6.5 % | 2022 |
| 8e | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 6.5 % | 2025 |
| 9e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 6.5 % | 2025 |
| 10e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 6.1 % | 2025 |
| 11e | 🇴🇲 Oman | 5.7 % | 2025 |
| 12e | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 5.6 % | 2014 |
| 13e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 4.7 % | 2025 |
| 14e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 15e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 4.5 % | 2025 |
| 16e | 🇸🇾 Syria | 4.1 % | 2010 |
| 17e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 4 % | 2014 |
| 18e | 🇲🇱 Mali | 3.9 % | 2025 |
| 19e | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 3.7 % | 2024 |
| 20e | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 3.6 % | 2025 |
| 21e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 3.6 % | 2023 |
| 22e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 3.5 % | 2025 |
| 23e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 3.4 % | 2025 |
| 24e | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 25e | 🇳🇴 Norway | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 26e | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 27e | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 28e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 29e | 🇹🇩 Chad | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 30e | 🇺🇸 United States | 3.1 % | 2025 |
| 31e | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 3.1 % | 1999 |
| 32e | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 3.1 % | 2025 |
| 33e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 3.1 % | 2025 |
| 34e | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 3.1 % | 2025 |
| 35e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 3 % | 2025 |
| 36e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 3 % | 2025 |
| 37e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 2.9 % | 2025 |
| 38e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 2.9 % | 2025 |
| 39e | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 2.9 % | 2018 |
| 40e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 42e | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 2.7 % | 2025 |
| 43e | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 2.6 % | 2008 |
| 44e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 2.6 % | 2025 |
| 45e | 🇫🇮 Finland | 2.6 % | 2025 |
| 46e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 2.5 % | 2025 |
| 47e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 2.5 % | 2025 |
| 48e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 2.5 % | 2018 |
| 49e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2.5 % | 2025 |
| 50e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 2.4 % | 2025 |
| 51e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 2.4 % | 2025 |
| 52e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2.4 % | 2025 |
| 53e | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 54e | 🇮🇳 India | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 55e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 56e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 57e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 58e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 59e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 2.2 % | 2017 |
| 60e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2.2 % | 2025 |
| 61e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 2.2 % | 2025 |
| 62e | 🇳🇪 Niger | 2.1 % | 2025 |
| 63e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2.1 % | 2025 |
| 64e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 2.1 % | 2025 |
| 65e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 2.1 % | 2025 |
| 66e | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 2 % | 2025 |
| 67e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 2 % | 2025 |
| 68e | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 2 % | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 2 % | 2025 |
| 70e | 🇫🇷 France | 2 % | 2025 |
| 71e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 2 % | 2025 |
| 72e | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 2 % | 2025 |
| 73e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 2 % | 2025 |
| 74e | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 2 % | 2025 |
| 75e | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 2 % | 2025 |
| 76e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 77e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 79e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 80e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 81e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 82e | 🇽🇰 Kosovo | 1.9 % | 2025 |
| 83e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 1.8 % | 2025 |
| 84e | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 1.8 % | 2021 |
| 85e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 1.7 % | 2025 |
| 86e | 🇨🇳 China | 1.7 % | 2025 |
| 87e | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 1.7 % | 2025 |
| 88e | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 1.7 % | 2025 |
| 89e | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 90e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 91e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 92e | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 93e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 94e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 95e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 96e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 97e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 98e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 99e | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 100e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1.4 % | 2025 |
| 101e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 1.4 % | 2025 |
| 102e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 1.4 % | 2025 |
| 103e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 1.4 % | 2025 |
| 104e | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 105e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 106e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 107e | 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 108e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 109e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 110e | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 1.3 % | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 1.2 % | 2025 |
| 112e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 1.2 % | 2025 |
| 113e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 1.2 % | 2025 |
| 114e | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 115e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 116e | 🇦🇹 Austria | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 117e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 118e | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 120e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 1 % | 2025 |
| 121e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 1 % | 2025 |
| 122e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 1 % | 2025 |
| 123e | 🇧🇿 Belize | 1 % | 2025 |
| 124e | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 1 % | 2025 |
| 125e | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 1 % | 2025 |
| 126e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 127e | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 0.9 % | 2021 |
| 128e | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 129e | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 130e | 🇧🇯 Benin | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 132e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 133e | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 135e | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 136e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 0.8 % | 2025 |
| 137e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 0.8 % | 2025 |
| 138e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 0.8 % | 2025 |
| 139e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 0.8 % | 2025 |
| 140e | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 0.8 % | 2025 |
| 141e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 0.7 % | 2025 |
| 142e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 0.7 % | 2025 |
| 143e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0.7 % | 2025 |
| 144e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 0.7 % | 2025 |
| 145e | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 146e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 147e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 148e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 149e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 150e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 151e | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 152e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 0.5 % | 2025 |
| 153e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 0.5 % | 2025 |
| 154e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 0.5 % | 2025 |
| 155e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 0.4 % | 2025 |
| 156e | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 0.4 % | 2025 |
| 157e | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 0.4 % | 2025 |
| 158e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 0.4 % | 2025 |
| 159e | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 0.2 % | 2025 |
| 160e | 🇱🇦 Laos | 0.2 % | 2013 |
| 161e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 0.1 % | 2025 |
| 162e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 0.1 % | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 0 % | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 0 % | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 0 % | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Military spending"?
The highest value is in Ukraine, at 39.6 % (2025).
Which country has the lowest value for "Military spending"?
The lowest value is in Panama, at 0 % (2025).
What is the world median value of "Military spending"?
The world median is 1.8 %, calculated across 165 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
What is the value of "Military spending" for France?
France scores 2 % (2025), ranking 70 out of 165 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).
Where does the "Military spending" data come from?
It comes from Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
Why measure military spending as a percentage of GDP?
Because it relates the military budget to the size of the economy. This compares each country's real effort, without large economies overshadowing small ones.
Does a high percentage mean a more powerful army?
Not necessarily. It indicates a budget effort, not firepower. A small economy can devote a large share of its wealth to the military with limited means in absolute terms.
Source and update
Source : Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Public finances
- Government final consumptionWhat the government spends to run public services (salaries, supplies and so on), compared with the country's wealth.
- Central government debtWhat the central government owes in total, compared with what the country produces in one year.
- Research and development spendingWhat the country (government and businesses) invests in research and innovation, compared with its wealth.
- Central government spendingWhat the central government spends each year (salaries, pensions, roads, health and so on), compared with the size of the economy.
- Share of income taxes in government revenueCitizens and companies pay taxes to the state. This indicator shows what share of central government revenue comes from taxes on income, corporate profits and capital gains, rather than from other revenue (sales taxes, customs duties, grants, etc.).
- Tax revenueThe taxes and duties collected by the central government, compared with the size of the economy.
- Budget balanceThe difference between what the government takes in and what it spends, compared with the size of the economy.