Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 1990
Military Expenditures as a percentage of GDP highlights national defense spending. Compare countries, explore rankings, and view trends.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
1 |  Afghanistan | 9.1 % of GDP |
2 |  Algeria | 1.8 % of GDP |
3 |  Argentina | 1.4 % of GDP |
4 |  Albania | 1.1 % of GDP |
5 |  Angola | NaN % of GDP |
6 |  Antigua and Barbuda | NaN % of GDP |
7 |  Australia | NaN % of GDP |
8 |  Slovakia | 28.4 % of GDP |
9 |  Bahrain | 5 % of GDP |
10 |  Congo | 4.6 % of GDP |
11 |  Chile | 4 % of GDP |
12 |  Chad | 3.5 % of GDP |
13 |  Burkina Faso | 3.1 % of GDP |
14 |  Burundi | 3.1 % of GDP |
15 |  Bolivia | 3 % of GDP |
16 |  Comoros | 3 % of GDP |
17 |  Belgium | 2.7 % of GDP |
18 |  Botswana | 2.2 % of GDP |
19 |  Denmark | 2.1 % of GDP |
20 |  Belize | 2 % of GDP |
21 |  Cyprus | 2 % of GDP |
22 |  Benin | 1.7 % of GDP |
23 |  Bangladesh | 1.5 % of GDP |
24 |  Austria | 1.1 % of GDP |
25 |  Bahamas | NaN % of GDP |
26 |  Barbados | 0.6 % of GDP |
27 |  Bhutan | NaN % of GDP |
28 |  Canada | 2 % of GDP |
29 |  Colombia | 1.9 % of GDP |
30 |  Bulgaria | 1.605 % of GDP |
31 |  Brazil | 0.6 % of GDP |
32 |  Brunei Darussalam | NaN % of GDP |
33 |  Cambodia | NaN % of GDP |
34 |  Myanmar | NaN % of GDP |
35 |  Central African Republic | 1.8 % of GDP |
36 |  Cameroon | 1.7 % of GDP |
37 |  China | NaN % of GDP |
38 |  Costa Rica | 0.6 % of GDP |
39 |  Cuba | NaN % of GDP |
40 |  Djibouti | NaN % of GDP |
41 |  Dominica | NaN % of GDP |
42 |  Hungary | 43.7 % of GDP |
43 |  North Korea | 22 % of GDP |
44 |  Equatorial Guinea | 11 % of GDP |
45 |  Jordan | 11 % of GDP |
46 |  Ethiopia | 8.5 % of GDP |
47 |  Israel | 8.5 % of GDP |
48 |  Iran | 8 % of GDP |
49 |  Egypt | 7.2 % of GDP |
50 |  Greece | 6 % of GDP |
51 |  Kuwait | 5.8 % of GDP |
52 |  South Korea | 5 % of GDP |
53 |  Guyana | 4.3 % of GDP |
54 |  El Salvador | 4 % of GDP |
55 |  France | 3.8 % of GDP |
56 |  Gabon | 3.2 % of GDP |
57 |  Guinea-Bissau | 3.2 % of GDP |
58 |  Guinea | 3.1 % of GDP |
59 |  Germany | 2.9 % of GDP |
60 |  India | 2.6 % of GDP |
61 |  Fiji | 2.5 % of GDP |
62 |  Italy | 2.4 % of GDP |
63 |  Indonesia | 2.1 % of GDP |
64 |  Ireland | 1.6 % of GDP |
65 |  Finland | 1.5 % of GDP |
66 |  Dominican Republic | 1.2 % of GDP |
67 |  Jamaica | 1.1 % of GDP |
68 |  Ecuador | 1 % of GDP |
69 |  Gambia | NaN % of GDP |
70 |  Guatemala | 1 % of GDP |
71 |  Ghana | 0.9 % of GDP |
72 |  Grenada | NaN % of GDP |
73 |  Haiti | NaN % of GDP |
74 |  Honduras | 1.9 % of GDP |
75 |  Iceland | NaN % of GDP |
76 |  Iraq | NaN % of GDP |
77 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 1.9 % of GDP |
78 |  Japan | 1 % of GDP |
79 |  Kenya | 1 % of GDP |
80 |  Kiribati | NaN % of GDP |
81 |  Laos | 3.8 % of GDP |
82 |  Lebanon | NaN % of GDP |
83 |  Poland | 954 % of GDP |
84 |  Oman | 16.5 % of GDP |
85 |  Romania | 11.8 % of GDP |
86 |  Libya | 11.1 % of GDP |
87 |  Lesotho | 8.6 % of GDP |
88 |  Mozambique | 8.4 % of GDP |
89 |  Morocco | 7.1 % of GDP |
90 |  Pakistan | 5.6 % of GDP |
91 |  Namibia | 4.9 % of GDP |
92 |  Peru | 4.9 % of GDP |
93 |  Mauritania | 4.2 % of GDP |
94 |  Malaysia | 3.8 % of GDP |
95 |  Norway | 3.3 % of GDP |
96 |  Netherlands | 2.9 % of GDP |
97 |  Mali | 2.5 % of GDP |
98 |  Liberia | 2.4 % of GDP |
99 |  Madagascar | 2.2 % of GDP |
100 |  New Zealand | 2.1 % of GDP |
101 |  Philippines | 2.1 % of GDP |
102 |  Nepal | 2 % of GDP |
103 |  Malawi | 1.6 % of GDP |
104 |  Papua New Guinea | 1.3 % of GDP |
105 |  Luxembourg | 1.2 % of GDP |
106 |  Maldives | NaN % of GDP |
107 |  Malta | 1.3 % of GDP |
108 |  Mauritius | NaN % of GDP |
109 |  Mexico | 0.5 % of GDP |
110 |  Mongolia | NaN % of GDP |
111 |  Nauru | NaN % of GDP |
112 |  Nicaragua | NaN % of GDP |
113 |  Niger | NaN % of GDP |
114 |  Rwanda | 2.1 % of GDP |
115 |  Panama | 2 % of GDP |
116 |  Nigeria | 1 % of GDP |
117 |  Paraguay | NaN % of GDP |
118 |  Portugal | NaN % of GDP |
119 |  Qatar | NaN % of GDP |
120 |  San Marino | NaN % of GDP |
121 |  Vietnam | 19.4 % of GDP |
122 |  Saudi Arabia | 16.9 % of GDP |
123 |  Suriname | 7.2 % of GDP |
124 |  Seychelles | 6 % of GDP |
125 |  United States | 5.8 % of GDP |
126 |  Singapore | 5 % of GDP |
127 |  South Africa | 5 % of GDP |
128 |  Sri Lanka | 5 % of GDP |
129 |  United Kingdom | 4.3 % of GDP |
130 |  Tanzania | 3.3 % of GDP |
131 |  Togo | 3.3 % of GDP |
132 |  Thailand | 2.9 % of GDP |
133 |  Tunisia | 2.7 % of GDP |
134 |  Uruguay | 2.5 % of GDP |
135 |  Spain | 2.1 % of GDP |
136 |  Senegal | 2 % of GDP |
137 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 1.6 % of GDP |
138 |  Sierra Leone | 1 % of GDP |
139 |  Solomon Islands | NaN % of GDP |
140 |  Somalia | NaN % of GDP |
141 |  Eswatini | NaN % of GDP |
142 |  Sweden | NaN % of GDP |
143 |  Switzerland | NaN % of GDP |
144 |  Syrian Arab Republic | NaN % of GDP |
145 |  Tonga | NaN % of GDP |
146 |  Taiwan | 6.8 % of GDP |
147 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1.6 % of GDP |
148 |  Tuvalu | NaN % of GDP |
149 |  Uganda | 1.4 % of GDP |
150 |  United Arab Emirates | NaN % of GDP |
151 |  Vanuatu | NaN % of GDP |
152 |  Venezuela | 1.1 % of GDP |
153 |  Samoa | NaN % of GDP |
154 |  Yemen | NaN % of GDP |
155 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | NaN % of GDP |
156 |  Zambia | NaN % of GDP |
157 |  Zimbabwe | NaN % of GDP |
- #1Afghanistan
- #2Algeria
- #3Argentina
- #4Albania
- #5Angola
- #6Antigua and Barbuda
- #7Australia
- #8Slovakia
- #9Bahrain
- #10Congo
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #157Zimbabwe
- #156Zambia
- #155Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- #154Yemen
- #153Samoa
- #152Venezuela
- #151Vanuatu
- #150United Arab Emirates
- #149Uganda
- #148Tuvalu
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 1990, Poland led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with an exceptional rate of 954%. This year saw a global range from a minimum of 0.50% to this maximum, underscoring significant disparities in defense spending priorities. The global median expenditure was 2.70%, providing a central point of reference against these extremes.
Post-Cold War Adjustments and their Impact
The dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War precipitated major shifts in military spending, particularly in Eastern Europe. Poland's extraordinarily high military expenditure of 954% can be attributed to the restructuring of its economy and military, transitioning from a state-controlled system to a market-oriented one. Similarly, Hungary and Slovakia recorded high expenditures of 43.7% and 28.4% respectively, reflecting their strategic realignments and defense commitments during this period of geopolitical change.
Geopolitical Tensions and Regional Defense Priorities
In regions with ongoing or recent conflicts, military expenditures as a percentage of GDP tend to be higher. North Korea, with its significant militarization, spent 22% of its GDP on defense, a reflection of its isolated stance and military-first policy. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Oman allocated 16.9% and 16.5% of their GDPs respectively to military spending. These figures highlight the strategic importance of military strength in regions with complex security dynamics and ongoing regional tensions.
Economic Capacity and Minimal Military Investment
Conversely, countries with lower military expenditures relative to GDP often reflect different strategic priorities or economic constraints. Mexico and Brazil recorded some of the lowest expenditures at 0.5% and 0.6% respectively. This can be linked to their focus on economic development and internal security over external defense threats. Japan, with a spending of 1%, maintained a policy of limited military expenditure post-World War II, relying instead on security alliances, primarily with the United States.
Economic Implications of High Defense Spending
High military expenditures can have significant economic implications, often diverting resources from other critical areas such as health, education, and infrastructure. In countries like Vietnam (19.4%) and Libya (11.1%), high military spending reflects both historical conflicts and ongoing security concerns. Such expenditures can strain national budgets, potentially impacting economic growth and development.
The disparities in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) observed in 1990 illustrate the varied geopolitical landscapes and economic strategies of countries worldwide. From nations focused on restructuring post-Cold War to those prioritizing internal development, these figures offer a window into the strategic priorities that continue to shape global defense policies.
Data Source
CIA World Factbook
The World Factbook, also known as the CIA World Factbook, was a reference resource produced by the US Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. From 1971 it was not classified, and available to the public in print since 1975, initially by the CIA, and later the Government Publishing Office.
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