Military Expenditure (% of GDP) 2005

Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP reflects a country's military focus relative to its economy.

156 data points••Global Coverage•Military spending as a share of GDP | Our World in Data•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
7.731 %
2
Oman flag
Oman
7.714 %
3
Israel flag
Israel
5.981 %
4
Belarus flag
Belarus
5.607 %
5
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
5.026 %
6
Yemen flag
Yemen
4.868 %
7
Jordan flag
Jordan
4.795 %
8
Djibouti flag
Djibouti
4.508 %
9
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
4.477 %
10
Burundi flag
Burundi
4.436 %
11
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
4.343 %
12
Singapore flag
Singapore
4.275 %
13
United States flag
United States
4.089 %
14
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
3.897 %
15
Angola flag
Angola
3.692 %
16
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
3.656 %
17
Colombia flag
Colombia
3.375 %
18
Georgia flag
Georgia
3.339 %
19
Russia flag
Russia
3.331 %
20
Sudan flag
Sudan
3.311 %
21
Morocco flag
Morocco
3.258 %
22
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
3.214 %
23
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
3.078 %
24
Mauritania flag
Mauritania
3.052 %
25
Iran flag
Iran
3.037 %
26
India flag
India
2.911 %
27
Greece flag
Greece
2.902 %
28
Armenia flag
Armenia
2.872 %
29
Botswana flag
Botswana
2.858 %
30
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
2.812 %
31
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
2.792 %
32
Algeria flag
Algeria
2.732 %
33
Egypt flag
Egypt
2.714 %
34
Montenegro flag
Montenegro
2.694 %
35
Namibia flag
Namibia
2.645 %
36
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
2.64 %
37
Chile flag
Chile
2.535 %
38
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
2.416 %
39
Turkey flag
Turkey
2.377 %
40
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
2.368 %
41
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
2.349 %
42
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
2.299 %
43
South Korea flag
South Korea
2.28 %
44
Iraq flag
Iraq
2.243 %
45
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
2.235 %
46
Serbia flag
Serbia
2.222 %
47
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
2.174 %
48
Taiwan flag
Taiwan
2.141 %
49
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
2.049 %
50
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
2.037 %
51
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
2.033 %
52
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
2.029 %
53
France flag
France
2.028 %
54
Romania flag
Romania
2.007 %
55
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
2 %
56
Qatar flag
Qatar
1.993 %
57
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
1.992 %
58
Poland flag
Poland
1.921 %
59
Guinea-Bissau flag
Guinea-Bissau
1.895 %
60
Zambia flag
Zambia
1.848 %
61
China flag
China
1.846 %
62
Venezuela flag
Venezuela
1.832 %
63
Australia flag
Australia
1.793 %
64
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
1.781 %
65
Timor-Leste flag
Timor-Leste
1.78 %
66
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
1.777 %
67
Croatia flag
Croatia
1.744 %
68
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
1.743 %
69
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
1.717 %
70
Kenya flag
Kenya
1.691 %
71
Nepal flag
Nepal
1.688 %
72
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
1.686 %
73
Uganda flag
Uganda
1.684 %
74
Latvia flag
Latvia
1.671 %
75
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
1.602 %
76
Italy flag
Italy
1.595 %
77
Portugal flag
Portugal
1.594 %
78
Peru flag
Peru
1.581 %
79
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
1.577 %
80
Norway flag
Norway
1.576 %
81
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.544 %
82
Brazil flag
Brazil
1.524 %
83
Congo flag
Congo
1.518 %
84
Finland flag
Finland
1.465 %
85
Togo flag
Togo
1.457 %
86
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
1.453 %
87
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
1.452 %
88
Estonia flag
Estonia
1.45 %
89
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
1.43 %
90
Libya flag
Libya
1.414 %
91
Hungary flag
Hungary
1.411 %
92
Guyana flag
Guyana
1.41 %
93
Sweden flag
Sweden
1.409 %
94
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
1.391 %
95
Spain flag
Spain
1.387 %
96
Mali flag
Mali
1.384 %
97
Albania flag
Albania
1.334 %
98
Fiji flag
Fiji
1.324 %
99
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1.31 %
100
Denmark flag
Denmark
1.308 %
101
Philippines flag
Philippines
1.278 %
102
Gabon flag
Gabon
1.249 %
103
South Africa flag
South Africa
1.235 %
104
Germany flag
Germany
1.233 %
105
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
1.202 %
106
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
1.163 %
107
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
1.157 %
108
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
1.144 %
109
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
1.14 %
110
Senegal flag
Senegal
1.13 %
111
Canada flag
Canada
1.107 %
112
Belgium flag
Belgium
1.097 %
113
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
1.09 %
114
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
1.072 %
115
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
1.058 %
116
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
1.036 %
117
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
1.017 %
118
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
1.004 %
119
Thailand flag
Thailand
0.986 %
120
Japan flag
Japan
0.909 %
121
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
0.904 %
122
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
0.859 %
123
Austria flag
Austria
0.856 %
124
Liberia flag
Liberia
0.85 %
125
Argentina flag
Argentina
0.847 %
126
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
0.833 %
127
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
0.824 %
128
Malta flag
Malta
0.823 %
129
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
0.767 %
130
Belize flag
Belize
0.763 %
131
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
0.751 %
132
Malawi flag
Malawi
0.742 %
133
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
0.721 %
134
Niger flag
Niger
0.715 %
135
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
0.702 %
136
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
0.7 %
137
Benin flag
Benin
0.681 %
138
Cabo Verde flag
Cabo Verde
0.649 %
139
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
0.647 %
140
Honduras flag
Honduras
0.641 %
141
Chad flag
Chad
0.611 %
142
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
0.605 %
143
Ireland flag
Ireland
0.541 %
144
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
0.528 %
145
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
0.417 %
146
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
0.4 %
147
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
0.397 %
148
Laos flag
Laos
0.393 %
149
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
0.384 %
150
Mexico flag
Mexico
0.34 %
151
Gambia flag
Gambia
0.277 %
152
Ghana flag
Ghana
0.261 %
153
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
0.161 %
154
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
0 %
155
Iceland flag
Iceland
0 %
156
Panama flag
Panama
0 %

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1Saudi Arabia flagSaudi Arabia
  2. #2Oman flagOman
  3. #3Israel flagIsrael
  4. #4Belarus flagBelarus
  5. #5Syrian Arab Republic flagSyrian Arab Republic
  6. #6Yemen flagYemen
  7. #7Jordan flagJordan
  8. #8Djibouti flagDjibouti
  9. #9Lebanon flagLebanon
  10. #10Burundi flagBurundi

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #156Panama flagPanama
  2. #155Iceland flagIceland
  3. #154Costa Rica flagCosta Rica
  4. #153Mauritius flagMauritius
  5. #152Ghana flagGhana
  6. #151Gambia flagGambia
  7. #150Mexico flagMexico
  8. #149Guatemala flagGuatemala
  9. #148Laos flagLaos
  10. #147Nigeria flagNigeria

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

In 2005, Saudi Arabia led the world in Military Expenditure (% of GDP) with a staggering 7.73%, while the global range spanned from 0.00% to 7.73%. The global average for military expenditure as a percentage of GDP was 1.89%, providing a benchmark for international comparisons.

Concentration of High Military Spending

The data from 2005 reveals a concentration of high military expenditure in specific regions, particularly the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and Oman topped the list with expenditures of 7.73% and 7.71% respectively. This emphasis on military spending in the Middle East can be attributed to ongoing regional conflicts and the strategic importance of military readiness. Countries like Israel and Jordan also show high expenditures at 5.98% and 4.79%, reflecting geopolitical tensions and security concerns in the region.

Minimal Military Spending and Economic Strategies

At the other end of the spectrum, several countries reported minimal military spending relative to their GDP. Iceland, Costa Rica, and Panama recorded 0.00%, emphasizing their strategic policies of neutrality and limited military engagement. For instance, Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948 to allocate resources to education and healthcare, a model of economic strategy that prioritizes social development over military expansion. Similarly, Mauritius and Ghana maintained low expenditures at 0.16% and 0.26%, reflecting a focus on internal development and peace-oriented policies.

Year-over-Year Changes in Military Expenditure

Analyzing the year-over-year changes, Georgia experienced the most significant increase in military expenditure, rising by 1.97%, a 143.1% increase from the previous year. This surge can be linked to escalating regional tensions and a strategic pivot towards strengthening military capabilities. Conversely, Belarus saw the largest decrease, dropping by 2.91% or 34.2%

Global Trends and Economic Implications

The global average military expenditure of 1.89% in 2005 reflects a diverse range of strategic priorities among countries. While some nations prioritize military readiness due to geopolitical threats, others invest in socio-economic development by maintaining lower military budgets. The data indicates a general trend of decreased military spending, with an average year-over-year decrease of -0.13% or -2.6%. Notably, countries such as Venezuela and Iraq increased their spending by 0.54% and 0.57% respectively, possibly due to internal security challenges and external pressures.

Overall, the 2005 military expenditure data underscores the complex interplay between economic capacity, geopolitical strategy, and national security priorities. These patterns highlight how countries balance the demands of military investment with other critical areas of national interest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Expenditure (% of GDP) in 2005

Which country had the highest military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005?

Saudi Arabia had the highest military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005, with 7.73%.

Which country had the lowest military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005?

Iceland had the lowest military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005, with 0%.

What was the average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP across all countries in 2005?

The average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP across all countries in 2005 was 1.89%.

What was the median military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005?

The median military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005 was 1.58%.

Which countries were in the top 3 for military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005?

The top 3 countries for military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2005 were Saudi Arabia (7.73%), Oman (7.71%), and Israel (5.98%).

How many countries had a military expenditure of 0% of GDP in 2005?

Three countries had a military expenditure of 0% of GDP in 2005: Iceland, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Insights by country

1

Burundi

In 2005, Burundi ranked #10 globally for Military Expenditure (% of GDP) at 4.43619 %. This figure is significantly higher than the average military expenditure in Africa, which is typically around 2-3% of GDP. The high military spending in Burundi can be attributed to ongoing security concerns stemming from its history of civil conflict and regional instability, necessitating a strong defense posture.

2

Albania

In 2005, Albania ranked #97 globally for Military Expenditure (% of GDP) at 1.3339647 %. This figure is relatively low compared to the NATO average, which typically exceeds 2%. The modest military spending reflects Albania's post-communist transition and ongoing economic challenges, as the country focused on development and integration into European structures rather than military expansion.

3

Belgium

In 2005, Belgium's Military Expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.0966412 %, ranking #112 out of 156 countries. This figure is below the NATO guideline of 2% of GDP, reflecting Belgium's historical commitment to collective defense rather than unilateral military investment. Additionally, Belgium's strategic location in Europe and its participation in international organizations contribute to a defense policy that prioritizes diplomacy and multilateral cooperation over extensive military spending.

4

Georgia

In 2005, Georgia ranked #18 globally with a military expenditure of 3.33917 % of its GDP. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting the country's strategic focus on defense amid regional tensions. The significant military spending can be attributed to Georgia's geopolitical situation, particularly its conflicts with Russia and the ongoing need to bolster national security and territorial integrity.

5

Malawi

In 2005, Malawi ranked #132 globally with a military expenditure of 0.74237365 % of its GDP. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting Malawi's focus on social and economic development rather than military enhancement. The country's limited financial resources, coupled with a history of prioritizing agriculture and health over defense, contribute to this low military spending.

6

Afghanistan

In 2005, Afghanistan ranked #57 globally with a military expenditure of 1.9920657 % of its GDP. This figure is relatively low compared to many neighboring countries, reflecting the challenges Afghanistan faced in rebuilding its military after years of conflict. The high military expenditure relative to GDP can be attributed to ongoing security concerns and the need for international support, particularly from NATO forces, to stabilize the nation during a critical transitional period.

7

Benin

In 2005, Benin ranked #137 globally with a Military Expenditure of 0.68097067 % of its GDP. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting the country's limited military budget compared to more militarized nations. The low expenditure can be attributed to Benin's focus on socio-economic development and stability, alongside its relatively peaceful regional context in West Africa.

8

Lebanon

In 2005, Lebanon ranked #9 globally in military expenditure, allocating 4.477395 % of its GDP to defense. This figure is significantly higher than the global average, reflecting Lebanon's ongoing security challenges and regional tensions, particularly with neighboring Israel and Syria. The high military spending is driven by the need to maintain armed forces capable of addressing internal and external threats, amid a complex socio-political landscape.

9

Honduras

In 2005, Honduras ranked #140 globally with a military expenditure of 0.6414785 % of its GDP. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating limited military investment compared to many other nations.

The relatively low military spending in Honduras can be attributed to its economic challenges and a focus on social development rather than military enhancement. Additionally, the country has faced significant issues such as poverty and political instability, which have influenced its defense budget priorities.

10

Morocco

In 2005, Morocco ranked #21 globally in military expenditure, allocating 3.257997 % of its GDP to defense. This figure is notably higher than the average military expenditure of many neighboring North African countries, reflecting Morocco's strategic focus on regional stability and security. The country's military spending is influenced by its geopolitical position, ongoing territorial disputes, and efforts to combat terrorism, which necessitate a robust defense posture.

Data Source

Military spending as a share of GDP | Our World in Data

Our World in Data is a research organization that provides extensive datasets on various global issues, including military spending as a share of GDP. The dataset offers country-level statistics that illustrate trends and comparisons in military expenditure relative to national economic output.

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Historical Data by Year

Explore Military Expenditure (% of GDP) data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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