Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2000

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

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

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Antigua and Barbuda	NaN % of GDP
2	Afghanistan	NaN % of GDP
3	Angola	25 % of GDP
4	Bahrain	5.2 % of GDP
5	Brunei Darussalam	5.1 % of GDP
6	Cyprus	5 % of GDP
7	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	4.6 % of GDP
8	Djibouti	4.5 % of GDP
9	Sri Lanka	4.2 % of GDP
10	Congo	3.8 % of GDP
11	Colombia	3.7 % of GDP
12	Chad	3.5 % of GDP
13	Chile	3.1 % of GDP
14	Algeria	2.7 % of GDP
15	Bulgaria	2.7 % of GDP
16	Azerbaijan	2.6 % of GDP
17	Burundi	2.6 % of GDP
18	Cambodia	2.4 % of GDP
19	Central African Republic	2.2 % of GDP
20	Myanmar	2.1 % of GDP
21	Belize	2 % of GDP
22	Costa Rica	2 % of GDP
23	Australia	1.9 % of GDP
24	Brazil	1.9 % of GDP
25	Bangladesh	1.8 % of GDP
26	Bolivia	1.8 % of GDP
27	Albania	1.5 % of GDP
28	Cameroon	1.4 % of GDP
29	Argentina	1.3 % of GDP
30	Austria	1.2 % of GDP
31	Barbados	NaN % of GDP
32	Botswana	1.2 % of GDP
33	Bermuda	NaN % of GDP
34	Belgium	1.2 % of GDP
35	Bahamas	NaN % of GDP
36	Bosnia and Herzegovina	NaN % of GDP
37	Denmark	1.7 % of GDP
38	Benin	1.2 % of GDP
39	Belarus	1.2 % of GDP
40	Solomon Islands	NaN % of GDP
41	Bhutan	NaN % of GDP
42	Canada	1.2 % of GDP
43	China	1.2 % of GDP
44	Comoros	NaN % of GDP
45	Cuba	NaN % of GDP
46	Cabo Verde	1.8 % of GDP
47	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
48	Eritrea	28.6 % of GDP
49	North Korea	25 % of GDP
50	Israel	9.4 % of GDP
51	Egypt	8.2 % of GDP
52	Kuwait	8 % of GDP
53	Jordan	7.8 % of GDP
54	Croatia	5 % of GDP
55	Ecuador	3.4 % of GDP
56	South Korea	3.2 % of GDP
57	Iran	2.9 % of GDP
58	Ethiopia	2.5 % of GDP
59	France	2.5 % of GDP
60	India	2.5 % of GDP
61	Finland	2 % of GDP
62	Gambia	2 % of GDP
63	Czech Republic	1.9 % of GDP
64	Kenya	1.9 % of GDP
65	Guyana	1.7 % of GDP
66	Italy	1.7 % of GDP
67	Gabon	1.6 % of GDP
68	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
69	Kazakhstan	1.5 % of GDP
70	Guinea	1.4 % of GDP
71	Hungary	1.4 % of GDP
72	Indonesia	1.3 % of GDP
73	Estonia	1.2 % of GDP
74	Dominican Republic	1.1 % of GDP
75	Fiji	1.1 % of GDP
76	Georgia	1 % of GDP
77	Kyrgyzstan	1 % of GDP
78	Ireland	0.9 % of GDP
79	El Salvador	0.9 % of GDP
80	Equatorial Guinea	0.6 % of GDP
81	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
82	French Guiana	NaN % of GDP
83	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
84	Ghana	0.7 % of GDP
85	Grenada	NaN % of GDP
86	Greece	NaN % of GDP
87	Guatemala	0.7 % of GDP
88	Haiti	NaN % of GDP
89	Côte d'Ivoire	1 % of GDP
90	Japan	0.9 % of GDP
91	Honduras	0.6 % of GDP
92	Iraq	NaN % of GDP
93	Jamaica	NaN % of GDP
94	Kiribati	NaN % of GDP
95	Oman	11.1 % of GDP
96	Qatar	8.1 % of GDP
97	Malta	5.5 % of GDP
98	New Caledonia	5.3 % of GDP
99	Mozambique	4.7 % of GDP
100	Laos	4.2 % of GDP
101	Lebanon	4 % of GDP
102	Pakistan	3.9 % of GDP
103	Morocco	3.8 % of GDP
104	Guinea-Bissau	2.8 % of GDP
105	Mauritania	2.7 % of GDP
106	Portugal	2.6 % of GDP
107	North Macedonia	2.5 % of GDP
108	Romania	2.5 % of GDP
109	Norway	2.1 % of GDP
110	Poland	2.1 % of GDP
111	Liberia	2 % of GDP
112	Mongolia	2 % of GDP
113	Mali	2 % of GDP
114	Peru	2 % of GDP
115	Slovakia	1.7 % of GDP
116	Malaysia	1.6 % of GDP
117	Suriname	1.6 % of GDP
118	Panama	1.6 % of GDP
119	Lithuania	1.5 % of GDP
120	Philippines	1.5 % of GDP
121	Paraguay	1.4 % of GDP
122	Niger	1.1 % of GDP
123	Luxembourg	1 % of GDP
124	Latvia	0.9 % of GDP
125	Lesotho	NaN % of GDP
126	Libya	NaN % of GDP
127	Nicaragua	1.2 % of GDP
128	New Zealand	1.1 % of GDP
129	Madagascar	1 % of GDP
130	Republic of Moldova	1 % of GDP
131	Mexico	1 % of GDP
132	Malawi	0.8 % of GDP
133	Nigeria	0.7 % of GDP
134	Mauritius	0.3 % of GDP
135	Maldives	NaN % of GDP
136	Vanuatu	NaN % of GDP
137	Netherlands	NaN % of GDP
138	Papua New Guinea	1 % of GDP
139	Nepal	0.9 % of GDP
140	Nauru	NaN % of GDP
141	Russia	NaN % of GDP
142	Saudi Arabia	12 % of GDP
143	Yemen	7.6 % of GDP
144	Syrian Arab Republic	5.9 % of GDP
145	Rwanda	3.8 % of GDP
146	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
147	Singapore	4.9 % of GDP
148	United Arab Emirates	4.8 % of GDP
149	Turkey	4.3 % of GDP
150	Turkmenistan	3.4 % of GDP
151	United States	3.2 % of GDP
152	Zimbabwe	3.1 % of GDP
153	Seychelles	2.8 % of GDP
154	Taiwan	2.8 % of GDP
155	United Kingdom	2.7 % of GDP
156	Namibia	2.6 % of GDP
157	Vietnam	2.5 % of GDP
158	Sweden	2.1 % of GDP
159	Sierra Leone	2 % of GDP
160	Saint Lucia	2 % of GDP
161	Togo	2 % of GDP
162	Burkina Faso	2 % of GDP
163	Uzbekistan	2 % of GDP
164	Uganda	1.9 % of GDP
165	Eswatini	1.9 % of GDP
166	Slovenia	1.6 % of GDP
167	South Africa	1.5 % of GDP
168	Senegal	1.4 % of GDP
169	San Marino	NaN % of GDP
170	Somalia	NaN % of GDP
171	Tajikistan	1.8 % of GDP
172	Zambia	1.8 % of GDP
173	Sao Tome and Principe	1.5 % of GDP
174	Tunisia	1.5 % of GDP
175	Thailand	1.3 % of GDP
176	Switzerland	1.2 % of GDP
177	Spain	1.1 % of GDP
178	Trinidad and Tobago	NaN % of GDP
179	Tonga	NaN % of GDP
180	Tuvalu	NaN % of GDP
181	Ukraine	1.4 % of GDP
182	Uruguay	0.9 % of GDP
183	Venezuela	0.9 % of GDP
184	Tanzania	0.2 % of GDP
185	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	NaN % of GDP
186	Samoa	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 2000, Eritrea led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 28.6%, while the global range spanned from 0.20% to 28.60%. The global average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP was 3.00%, with a median of 2.00%, highlighting significant variance in national defense spending priorities.

Geopolitical Tensions and High Expenditure

Countries with high military expenditures as a percentage of GDP often face geopolitical tensions or have strategic military objectives. Eritrea and North Korea, with expenditures at 28.6% and 25% respectively, exemplify this trend. Eritrea's high spending is linked to its prolonged conflict with Ethiopia, known as the Eritrean-Ethiopian War, which necessitated substantial military funding. Similarly, North Korea has historically prioritized military readiness in its national policy, reflecting ongoing tensions with South Korea and the broader international community.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Oman allocated 12% and 11.1% of their GDP to military spending, respectively. These high levels are driven by regional instability and the need to maintain robust defense capabilities in a geopolitically volatile area. The strategic importance of oil reserves and the need to protect them also contribute to elevated expenditure levels in these nations.

Economic Capacity and Military Spending

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP can also reflect a country's economic capacity and policy priorities. Angola, with an expenditure of 25%, and Egypt, with 8.2%, illustrate how countries with varying economic statuses allocate significant resources to defense. For Angola, post-civil war reconstruction and securing oil-rich regions are critical drivers of military investment. Meanwhile, Egypt's spending is influenced by its strategic location and role in regional security.

Conversely, countries like Tanzania and Mauritius exhibit minimal military expenditures at 0.2% and 0.3% respectively. These countries prioritize economic development and social programs over military investment, reflecting different national priorities and lower perceived external threats.

Significant Year-over-Year Changes in Military Expenditure

While the average change in military expenditures as a percentage of GDP was a decrease of 0.10% in 2000, some countries experienced notable shifts. Malta saw the most significant increase, with a 2.80% rise, marking a 103.7% increase from the previous year. This could be attributed to strategic defense investments as Malta sought to bolster its military infrastructure.

On the other hand, Vietnam experienced a dramatic decrease of 6.80%, a 73.1% reduction. This substantial drop is likely due to economic reforms and a shift in focus towards development and modernization post the Cold War era. Similarly, Qatar and Zimbabwe reduced their military spending by 1.50% each, reflecting changing national priorities or economic constraints.

Global Implications of Military Spending Patterns

The data on military expenditures as a percentage of GDP in 2000 reveals a complex interplay of geopolitical, economic, and strategic factors. High military spending often correlates with geopolitical tensions, as seen in countries like Israel and Jordan, with expenditures of 9.4% and 7.8% respectively. Both nations face security challenges that necessitate significant defense budgets.

In contrast, countries with low expenditures, such as Uruguay and Ireland at 0.9%, often enjoy stable geopolitical environments and prioritize economic and social development. This divergence in spending underscores the varied strategic imperatives and economic conditions that shape national defense policies globally.

The insights from military expenditures in 2000 highlight the critical role of geopolitical context and economic considerations in shaping defense budgets. Understanding these patterns provides valuable context for analyzing current and future trends in global 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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