Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 1995
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 |  Albania | 330 % of GDP |
2 |  Afghanistan | NaN % of GDP |
3 |  Algeria | NaN % of GDP |
4 |  Angola | NaN % of GDP |
5 |  Antigua and Barbuda | NaN % of GDP |
6 |  Argentina | NaN % of GDP |
7 |  Australia | NaN % of GDP |
8 |  Austria | NaN % of GDP |
9 |  Azerbaijan | 70.5 % of GDP |
10 |  Bahamas | NaN % of GDP |
11 |  Bahrain | NaN % of GDP |
12 |  Bangladesh | NaN % of GDP |
13 |  Barbados | NaN % of GDP |
14 |  Belarus | 56.5 % of GDP |
15 |  Belgium | NaN % of GDP |
16 |  Belize | NaN % of GDP |
17 |  Benin | NaN % of GDP |
18 |  Bermuda | NaN % of GDP |
19 |  Bhutan | NaN % of GDP |
20 |  Bolivia | NaN % of GDP |
21 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | NaN % of GDP |
22 |  Botswana | NaN % of GDP |
23 |  Brazil | NaN % of GDP |
24 |  Brunei Darussalam | NaN % of GDP |
25 |  Bulgaria | 13 % of GDP |
26 |  Burkina Faso | NaN % of GDP |
27 |  Myanmar | NaN % of GDP |
28 |  Burundi | NaN % of GDP |
29 |  Cambodia | NaN % of GDP |
30 |  Cameroon | NaN % of GDP |
31 |  Canada | NaN % of GDP |
32 |  Central African Republic | NaN % of GDP |
33 |  Chad | NaN % of GDP |
34 |  Chile | NaN % of GDP |
35 |  China | NaN % of GDP |
36 |  Colombia | NaN % of GDP |
37 |  Comoros | NaN % of GDP |
38 |  Congo | NaN % of GDP |
39 |  Costa Rica | NaN % of GDP |
40 |  Côte d'Ivoire | NaN % of GDP |
41 |  Croatia | 337 % of GDP |
42 |  Cuba | NaN % of GDP |
43 |  Cyprus | NaN % of GDP |
44 |  Czech Republic | 27 % of GDP |
45 |  Denmark | NaN % of GDP |
46 |  Djibouti | NaN % of GDP |
47 |  Dominica | NaN % of GDP |
48 |  Dominican Republic | NaN % of GDP |
49 |  Ecuador | NaN % of GDP |
50 |  Egypt | NaN % of GDP |
51 |  El Salvador | NaN % of GDP |
52 |  Equatorial Guinea | NaN % of GDP |
53 |  Eritrea | NaN % of GDP |
54 |  Estonia | NaN % of GDP |
55 |  Ethiopia | NaN % of GDP |
56 |  Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | NaN % of GDP |
57 |  Faroe Islands | NaN % of GDP |
58 |  Fiji | NaN % of GDP |
59 |  Finland | NaN % of GDP |
60 |  France | NaN % of GDP |
61 |  French Guiana | NaN % of GDP |
62 |  Gabon | NaN % of GDP |
63 |  Gambia | NaN % of GDP |
64 |  Georgia | NaN % of GDP |
65 |  Germany | NaN % of GDP |
66 |  Ghana | NaN % of GDP |
67 |  Greece | NaN % of GDP |
68 |  Grenada | NaN % of GDP |
69 |  Guatemala | NaN % of GDP |
70 |  Guinea | NaN % of GDP |
71 |  Guinea-Bissau | NaN % of GDP |
72 |  Guyana | NaN % of GDP |
73 |  Haiti | NaN % of GDP |
74 |  Honduras | NaN % of GDP |
75 |  Hungary | 66.5 % of GDP |
76 |  Iceland | NaN % of GDP |
77 |  India | NaN % of GDP |
78 |  Indonesia | NaN % of GDP |
79 |  Iran | NaN % of GDP |
80 |  Iraq | NaN % of GDP |
81 |  Ireland | NaN % of GDP |
82 |  Israel | NaN % of GDP |
83 |  Italy | NaN % of GDP |
84 |  Jamaica | NaN % of GDP |
85 |  Japan | NaN % of GDP |
86 |  Jordan | NaN % of GDP |
87 |  Kazakhstan | 69.3 % of GDP |
88 |  Kenya | NaN % of GDP |
89 |  Kiribati | NaN % of GDP |
90 |  North Korea | NaN % of GDP |
91 |  South Korea | NaN % of GDP |
92 |  Kuwait | NaN % of GDP |
93 |  Kyrgyzstan | NaN % of GDP |
94 |  Laos | NaN % of GDP |
95 |  Latvia | 176 % of GDP |
96 |  Lebanon | NaN % of GDP |
97 |  Lesotho | NaN % of GDP |
98 |  Liberia | NaN % of GDP |
99 |  Libya | NaN % of GDP |
100 |  Lithuania | NaN % of GDP |
101 |  Luxembourg | NaN % of GDP |
102 |  North Macedonia | 7 % of GDP |
103 |  Madagascar | NaN % of GDP |
104 |  Malawi | NaN % of GDP |
105 |  Malaysia | NaN % of GDP |
106 |  Maldives | NaN % of GDP |
107 |  Mali | NaN % of GDP |
108 |  Malta | NaN % of GDP |
109 |  Mauritania | NaN % of GDP |
110 |  Mauritius | NaN % of GDP |
111 |  Mexico | NaN % of GDP |
112 |  Republic of Moldova | NaN % of GDP |
113 |  Mongolia | NaN % of GDP |
114 |  Morocco | NaN % of GDP |
115 |  Mozambique | NaN % of GDP |
116 |  Namibia | NaN % of GDP |
117 |  Nauru | NaN % of GDP |
118 |  Nepal | NaN % of GDP |
119 |  Netherlands | NaN % of GDP |
120 |  New Caledonia | NaN % of GDP |
121 |  New Zealand | NaN % of GDP |
122 |  Nicaragua | NaN % of GDP |
123 |  Niger | NaN % of GDP |
124 |  Nigeria | NaN % of GDP |
125 |  Norway | NaN % of GDP |
126 |  Oman | NaN % of GDP |
127 |  Pakistan | NaN % of GDP |
128 |  Papua New Guinea | NaN % of GDP |
129 |  Panama | NaN % of GDP |
130 |  Paraguay | NaN % of GDP |
131 |  Peru | NaN % of GDP |
132 |  Philippines | NaN % of GDP |
133 |  Poland | 50.7 % of GDP |
134 |  Portugal | NaN % of GDP |
135 |  Qatar | NaN % of GDP |
136 |  Romania | 1,260 % of GDP |
137 |  Russia | NaN % of GDP |
138 |  Rwanda | NaN % of GDP |
139 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | NaN % of GDP |
140 |  Saint Lucia | NaN % of GDP |
141 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | NaN % of GDP |
142 |  San Marino | NaN % of GDP |
143 |  Sao Tome and Principe | NaN % of GDP |
144 |  Saudi Arabia | NaN % of GDP |
145 |  Senegal | NaN % of GDP |
146 |  Seychelles | NaN % of GDP |
147 |  Sierra Leone | NaN % of GDP |
148 |  Singapore | NaN % of GDP |
149 |  Slovenia | 13.5 % of GDP |
150 |  Slovakia | 9.59 % of GDP |
151 |  Solomon Islands | NaN % of GDP |
152 |  Somalia | NaN % of GDP |
153 |  South Africa | NaN % of GDP |
154 |  Spain | NaN % of GDP |
155 |  Sri Lanka | NaN % of GDP |
156 |  Suriname | NaN % of GDP |
157 |  Eswatini | NaN % of GDP |
158 |  Sweden | NaN % of GDP |
159 |  Switzerland | NaN % of GDP |
160 |  Syrian Arab Republic | NaN % of GDP |
161 |  Taiwan | NaN % of GDP |
162 |  Tajikistan | NaN % of GDP |
163 |  Tanzania | NaN % of GDP |
164 |  Thailand | NaN % of GDP |
165 |  Togo | NaN % of GDP |
166 |  Tonga | NaN % of GDP |
167 |  Trinidad and Tobago | NaN % of GDP |
168 |  Tunisia | NaN % of GDP |
169 |  Turkmenistan | NaN % of GDP |
170 |  Tuvalu | NaN % of GDP |
171 |  Uganda | NaN % of GDP |
172 |  Ukraine | 544.3 % of GDP |
173 |  United Arab Emirates | NaN % of GDP |
174 |  United Kingdom | NaN % of GDP |
175 |  United States | NaN % of GDP |
176 |  Uruguay | NaN % of GDP |
177 |  Uzbekistan | NaN % of GDP |
178 |  Vanuatu | NaN % of GDP |
179 |  Venezuela | NaN % of GDP |
180 |  Vietnam | NaN % of GDP |
181 |  Samoa | NaN % of GDP |
182 |  Yemen | NaN % of GDP |
183 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | NaN % of GDP |
184 |  Zambia | NaN % of GDP |
185 |  Zimbabwe | NaN % of GDP |
- #1Albania
- #2Afghanistan
- #3Algeria
- #4Angola
- #5Antigua and Barbuda
- #6Argentina
- #7Australia
- #8Austria
- #9Azerbaijan
- #10Bahamas
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #185Zimbabwe
- #184Zambia
- #183Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- #182Yemen
- #181Samoa
- #180Vietnam
- #179Venezuela
- #178Vanuatu
- #177Uzbekistan
- #176Uruguay
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 1995, Romania led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP), with a staggering expenditure of 1260%. This year saw a global range from a minimum of 7% to a maximum of 1260%, highlighting significant disparities in national defense spending priorities. The global average for military expenditures as a percentage of GDP was approximately 202.06%, offering a benchmark for understanding these variations.
Economic and Political Drivers of Military Expenditures
The extraordinary figure from Romania can be attributed to the country's transitional economy and political climate in the mid-1990s. During this period, Romania was undergoing significant restructuring after the fall of communism, which often necessitates increased military spending to stabilize and secure emerging democratic institutions. Similarly, countries like Ukraine and Croatia, with expenditures of 544.3% and 337% respectively, were influenced by regional security concerns and the need to maintain military readiness amidst geopolitical tensions.
In contrast, North Macedonia and Slovakia, with expenditures at the lower end of the spectrum (7% and 9.59% respectively), may have prioritized economic development and social programs over military expansion. These countries were likely more focused on economic growth and integration into European and global markets, which could explain their lower military spending relative to GDP.
Regional Security Concerns and Military Spending
Security dynamics in Eastern Europe played a significant role in shaping military expenditures. For instance, Latvia and Azerbaijan had military expenditures of 176% and 70.5% respectively, reflecting their strategic positioning near Russia. The perceived threats from larger neighboring countries often compel smaller nations to allocate a higher percentage of their GDP to defense to safeguard sovereignty and maintain regional stability.
In the Balkans, countries like Croatia and Albania demonstrated elevated military expenditures (337% and 330% respectively) due to the lingering effects of the Yugoslav Wars. The need to rebuild and modernize military capabilities to prevent future conflicts and ensure national security was a driving factor behind these high percentages.
Year-over-Year Trends and Notable Changes
Analyzing the year-over-year changes reveals significant shifts in military spending priorities. Romania experienced the most substantial increase, with an addition of 1123% (an increase of 819.7%), reflecting a dramatic policy shift possibly linked to internal reforms and external pressures. Meanwhile, Albania and Poland also saw notable increases in military expenditure, with changes of 115% (an increase of 53.5%) and 19.90% (an increase of 64.6%) respectively, indicating a focus on strengthening military capabilities.
Conversely, Ukraine experienced a drastic reduction of -543711.70% (a decrease of 99.9%), likely due to economic constraints and a strategic pivot towards economic recovery. Similarly, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan recorded significant decreases, shedding 69256.70% and 2777.50% respectively, which may have been driven by a reassessment of military needs or external financial pressures.
Implications and Insights
The data from 1995 underscores the profound impact of geopolitical tensions and economic transitions on military expenditures. Countries with higher expenditures, such as Romania and Ukraine, were often responding to immediate security threats or internal restructuring needs, while those with lower percentages, like North Macedonia and Slovakia, prioritized economic growth and integration into broader economic frameworks. Understanding these expenditures within the context of regional dynamics and economic conditions provides valuable insights into national priorities and strategic objectives during a period of significant global change.
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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