Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 1997

Military Expenditures as a percentage of GDP highlights national defense spending. Compare countries, explore rankings, and view trends.

182 data points•Updated 3/28/2026•Global Coverage•CIA World Factbook•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Afghanistan	NaN % of GDP
2	Angola	31 % of GDP
3	Chad	11.1 % of GDP
4	Croatia	10 % of GDP
5	Bahrain	6.4 % of GDP
6	Burkina Faso	6.4 % of GDP
7	Brunei Darussalam	6.2 % of GDP
8	Cyprus	5.4 % of GDP
9	Botswana	5.2 % of GDP
10	Bahamas	3.8 % of GDP
11	Congo	3.8 % of GDP
12	Chile	3.5 % of GDP
13	Benin	3.2 % of GDP
14	Colombia	2.8 % of GDP
15	Algeria	2.7 % of GDP
16	Burundi	2.6 % of GDP
17	Central African Republic	2.3 % of GDP
18	Czech Republic	2.2 % of GDP
19	Bulgaria	2 % of GDP
20	Costa Rica	2 % of GDP
21	Australia	1.9 % of GDP
22	Bolivia	1.9 % of GDP
23	Bangladesh	1.7 % of GDP
24	Belgium	1.7 % of GDP
25	Argentina	1.6 % of GDP
26	Albania	1.5 % of GDP
27	Antigua and Barbuda	1 % of GDP
28	Austria	1 % of GDP
29	Azerbaijan	NaN % of GDP
30	Barbados	NaN % of GDP
31	Belarus	NaN % of GDP
32	Belize	NaN % of GDP
33	Bermuda	NaN % of GDP
34	Bhutan	NaN % of GDP
35	Bosnia and Herzegovina	NaN % of GDP
36	Brazil	1.1 % of GDP
37	Myanmar	NaN % of GDP
38	Cambodia	NaN % of GDP
39	Cameroon	NaN % of GDP
40	Canada	1.6 % of GDP
41	China	NaN % of GDP
42	Comoros	NaN % of GDP
43	Denmark	1.6 % of GDP
44	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.5 % of GDP
45	Côte d'Ivoire	1.4 % of GDP
46	Cuba	NaN % of GDP
47	Djibouti	NaN % of GDP
48	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
49	North Korea	25 % of GDP
50	Kuwait	12.8 % of GDP
51	Egypt	8.2 % of GDP
52	Jordan	8.2 % of GDP
53	Laos	8.1 % of GDP
54	Fiji	5 % of GDP
55	Greece	4.6 % of GDP
56	Guinea-Bissau	4.5 % of GDP
57	Kenya	3.9 % of GDP
58	Gambia	3.8 % of GDP
59	South Korea	3.3 % of GDP
60	India	2.7 % of GDP
61	France	2.5 % of GDP
62	Gabon	2.4 % of GDP
63	Ecuador	2.1 % of GDP
64	Italy	1.9 % of GDP
65	Guyana	1.7 % of GDP
66	Finland	1.6 % of GDP
67	Guinea	1.6 % of GDP
68	Estonia	1.5 % of GDP
69	Hungary	1.5 % of GDP
70	Dominican Republic	1.4 % of GDP
71	Japan	1 % of GDP
72	El Salvador	0.9 % of GDP
73	Equatorial Guinea	NaN % of GDP
74	Eritrea	NaN % of GDP
75	Ethiopia	NaN % of GDP
76	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
77	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
78	French Guiana	NaN % of GDP
79	Georgia	NaN % of GDP
80	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
81	Ghana	0.8 % of GDP
82	Grenada	NaN % of GDP
83	Guatemala	0.8 % of GDP
84	Haiti	NaN % of GDP
85	Honduras	NaN % of GDP
86	Indonesia	1.3 % of GDP
87	Iraq	NaN % of GDP
88	Ireland	1.3 % of GDP
89	Israel	NaN % of GDP
90	Jamaica	NaN % of GDP
91	Kiribati	NaN % of GDP
92	Kyrgyzstan	NaN % of GDP
93	Oman	13.7 % of GDP
94	Rwanda	7 % of GDP
95	Lebanon	5.5 % of GDP
96	Latvia	3 % of GDP
97	Lesotho	NaN % of GDP
98	Libya	6.1 % of GDP
99	Mozambique	5.3 % of GDP
100	Pakistan	5.3 % of GDP
101	Morocco	4.1 % of GDP
102	Qatar	3.5 % of GDP
103	Liberia	2.9 % of GDP
104	Norway	2.9 % of GDP
105	Malta	2.7 % of GDP
106	Malaysia	2.6 % of GDP
107	Mauritania	2.5 % of GDP
108	Romania	2.5 % of GDP
109	Poland	2.3 % of GDP
110	Mali	2.2 % of GDP
111	Netherlands	2.1 % of GDP
112	Saint Lucia	2 % of GDP
113	Peru	1.9 % of GDP
114	Portugal	1.9 % of GDP
115	Nicaragua	1.35 % of GDP
116	Niger	1.3 % of GDP
117	Nepal	1.2 % of GDP
118	New Zealand	1.1 % of GDP
119	Lithuania	1 % of GDP
120	Madagascar	1 % of GDP
121	Luxembourg	0.8 % of GDP
122	North Macedonia	NaN % of GDP
123	Malawi	NaN % of GDP
124	Maldives	NaN % of GDP
125	Namibia	2.1 % of GDP
126	Mexico	1.5 % of GDP
127	Mongolia	1 % of GDP
128	Mauritius	0.4 % of GDP
129	Republic of Moldova	NaN % of GDP
130	Nauru	NaN % of GDP
131	New Caledonia	NaN % of GDP
132	Nigeria	NaN % of GDP
133	Panama	NaN % of GDP
134	Papua New Guinea	NaN % of GDP
135	Philippines	0.7 % of GDP
136	Paraguay	0.6 % of GDP
137	Russia	NaN % of GDP
138	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
139	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	NaN % of GDP
140	San Marino	1 % of GDP
141	Sao Tome and Principe	NaN % of GDP
142	Saudi Arabia	10 % of GDP
143	Syrian Arab Republic	8 % of GDP
144	Sri Lanka	5.7 % of GDP
145	United Arab Emirates	4.3 % of GDP
146	Uzbekistan	3.7 % of GDP
147	Taiwan	3.6 % of GDP
148	United States	3.4 % of GDP
149	Zimbabwe	3.4 % of GDP
150	United Kingdom	3.1 % of GDP
151	Turkmenistan	3 % of GDP
152	Tunisia	2.8 % of GDP
153	Slovakia	2.7 % of GDP
154	Senegal	2.1 % of GDP
155	Seychelles	NaN % of GDP
156	Singapore	5.2 % of GDP
157	Tajikistan	3.4 % of GDP
158	Togo	2.9 % of GDP
159	Vietnam	2.7 % of GDP
160	Zambia	2.7 % of GDP
161	Sierra Leone	2.6 % of GDP
162	South Africa	2.2 % of GDP
163	Slovenia	1.5 % of GDP
164	Solomon Islands	NaN % of GDP
165	Somalia	NaN % of GDP
166	Spain	1.4 % of GDP
167	Suriname	NaN % of GDP
168	Eswatini	NaN % of GDP
169	Sweden	2.5 % of GDP
170	Thailand	2.5 % of GDP
171	Switzerland	1.4 % of GDP
172	Tanzania	NaN % of GDP
173	Tonga	NaN % of GDP
174	Trinidad and Tobago	NaN % of GDP
175	Tuvalu	NaN % of GDP
176	Uganda	1.7 % of GDP
177	Ukraine	NaN % of GDP
178	Uruguay	1.5 % of GDP
179	Vanuatu	NaN % of GDP
180	Venezuela	1.4 % of GDP
181	Samoa	NaN % of GDP
182	Yemen	NaN % of GDP

↑Top 10 Countries

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

↓Bottom 10 Countries

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

Analysis & Context

In 1997, Angola led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 31%, while the global range spanned from 0.40% to 31.00%. The data from this year shows a global average of 3.52%, providing a contextual benchmark for understanding national defense spending across 124 countries.

High Expenditure Nations: Economic and Political Drivers

The countries with the highest military spending as a percentage of GDP, such as Angola (31%), North Korea (25%), and Oman (13.7%), demonstrate how geopolitical tensions and economic strategies can drive defense budgets. In Angola, prolonged civil conflict necessitated significant military investment, while North Korea's militaristic policies are well-documented. Oman, with its strategic location in the Middle East, invests heavily in defense to maintain regional stability. These expenditures are not just reflective of military needs but also of political priorities and economic capacities.

Low Expenditure Nations: Economic Stability and Policy Choices

On the opposite end, countries like Mauritius (0.4%), Paraguay (0.6%), and Philippines (0.7%) spent the least on military as a percentage of GDP. These nations often prioritize economic development and social welfare over defense spending. For instance, Mauritius, with its stable political climate and lack of military threats, can afford to allocate resources elsewhere. Similarly, Paraguay and the Philippines focus on economic growth and infrastructure, reflecting strategic policy decisions that prioritize development over military expansion.

Year-over-Year Trends: Significant Movers

The year-over-year changes in military expenditure highlight significant shifts, with countries like Turkmenistan showing a notable increase of +-1.50 (-33.3%). On the other hand, Croatia experienced a dramatic decrease of -327.00 (-97.0%), while Tajikistan and Latvia also saw reductions of -176.60 (-98.1%) and -173.00 (-98.3%), respectively. These changes can be attributed to post-conflict adjustments, economic restructuring, or shifts in government policy. For Croatia, the end of regional conflicts and a shift towards EU integration likely influenced its reduced military expenditure.

Global Implications and Strategic Outlook

The 1997 data on military expenditures as a percentage of GDP highlights the diverse approaches nations take towards defense spending. Countries with high expenditures often face geopolitical challenges or internal conflicts that necessitate such investments. Conversely, nations with lower expenditures typically enjoy stable political environments, allowing them to focus on economic growth and development. Understanding these patterns is crucial for analyzing global security dynamics and predicting future trends in military spending.

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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Historical Data by Year

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

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