Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2002

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

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

View data for:

Interactive Map

Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Antigua and Barbuda	NaN % of GDP
2	Afghanistan	NaN % of GDP
3	Angola	22 % of GDP
4	Bahrain	6.7 % of GDP
5	Burundi	5.3 % of GDP
6	Brunei Darussalam	5.1 % of GDP
7	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	4.6 % of GDP
8	Djibouti	4.4 % of GDP
9	Sri Lanka	4.2 % of GDP
10	Cyprus	4.2 % of GDP
11	Algeria	4.1 % of GDP
12	Botswana	3.5 % of GDP
13	Colombia	3.4 % of GDP
14	Chile	3.1 % of GDP
15	Cambodia	3 % of GDP
16	Comoros	3 % of GDP
17	Congo	2.8 % of GDP
18	Bulgaria	2.7 % of GDP
19	Azerbaijan	2.6 % of GDP
20	Central African Republic	2.2 % of GDP
21	Myanmar	2.1 % of GDP
22	Australia	2 % of GDP
23	Brazil	1.9 % of GDP
24	Bhutan	1.9 % of GDP
25	Chad	1.9 % of GDP
26	Belize	1.87 % of GDP
27	Bangladesh	1.8 % of GDP
28	Albania	1.49 % of GDP
29	Belgium	1.4 % of GDP
30	Argentina	1.3 % of GDP
31	Austria	0.8 % of GDP
32	Barbados	NaN % of GDP
33	Bolivia	1.8 % of GDP
34	China	1.6 % of GDP
35	Costa Rica	1.6 % of GDP
36	Cabo Verde	1.6 % of GDP
37	Cameroon	1.4 % of GDP
38	Denmark	1.4 % of GDP
39	Benin	1.2 % of GDP
40	Canada	1.1 % of GDP
41	Belarus	1 % of GDP
42	Bahamas	0.7 % of GDP
43	Bermuda	0.11 % of GDP
44	Bosnia and Herzegovina	NaN % of GDP
45	Solomon Islands	NaN % of GDP
46	Cuba	NaN % of GDP
47	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
48	North Korea	31.3 % of GDP
49	Eritrea	19.8 % of GDP
50	Ethiopia	12.6 % of GDP
51	Israel	8.75 % of GDP
52	Jordan	8.6 % of GDP
53	Kuwait	5.5 % of GDP
54	Greece	4.91 % of GDP
55	Egypt	4.1 % of GDP
56	Ecuador	3.4 % of GDP
57	Guinea	3.3 % of GDP
58	Iran	3.1 % of GDP
59	South Korea	2.8 % of GDP
60	France	2.57 % of GDP
61	Equatorial Guinea	2.5 % of GDP
62	India	2.5 % of GDP
63	Croatia	2.39 % of GDP
64	Fiji	2.2 % of GDP
65	Czech Republic	2.1 % of GDP
66	Estonia	2 % of GDP
67	Finland	2 % of GDP
68	Kenya	1.8 % of GDP
69	Hungary	1.75 % of GDP
70	Italy	1.64 % of GDP
71	Kyrgyzstan	1.4 % of GDP
72	Germany	1.38 % of GDP
73	Haiti	1.3 % of GDP
74	Dominican Republic	1.1 % of GDP
75	Ireland	0.9 % of GDP
76	El Salvador	0.7 % of GDP
77	French Guiana	NaN % of GDP
78	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
79	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
80	Gabon	2 % of GDP
81	Indonesia	1.3 % of GDP
82	Côte d'Ivoire	1.3 % of GDP
83	Japan	1 % of GDP
84	Ghana	0.7 % of GDP
85	Guatemala	0.6 % of GDP
86	Honduras	0.6 % of GDP
87	Georgia	0.59 % of GDP
88	Gambia	0.3 % of GDP
89	Grenada	NaN % of GDP
90	Guyana	NaN % of GDP
91	Iraq	NaN % of GDP
92	Jamaica	NaN % of GDP
93	Kiribati	NaN % of GDP
94	Oman	12.2 % of GDP
95	Qatar	10 % of GDP
96	Maldives	8.6 % of GDP
97	North Macedonia	6 % of GDP
98	New Caledonia	5.3 % of GDP
99	Lebanon	4.8 % of GDP
100	Pakistan	4.6 % of GDP
101	Laos	4.2 % of GDP
102	Morocco	4 % of GDP
103	Libya	3.9 % of GDP
104	Mauritania	3.7 % of GDP
105	Guinea-Bissau	2.8 % of GDP
106	Mongolia	2.5 % of GDP
107	Romania	2.47 % of GDP
108	Portugal	2.2 % of GDP
109	Norway	2.13 % of GDP
110	Malaysia	2.03 % of GDP
111	Mali	2 % of GDP
112	Lithuania	1.9 % of GDP
113	Slovakia	1.89 % of GDP
114	Peru	1.8 % of GDP
115	Poland	1.71 % of GDP
116	Suriname	1.6 % of GDP
117	Netherlands	1.5 % of GDP
118	Paraguay	1.4 % of GDP
119	Liberia	1.3 % of GDP
120	Latvia	1.2 % of GDP
121	Lesotho	NaN % of GDP
122	Malta	1.7 % of GDP
123	Philippines	1.5 % of GDP
124	Niger	1.3 % of GDP
125	Panama	1.3 % of GDP
126	Madagascar	1.2 % of GDP
127	Nicaragua	1.2 % of GDP
128	New Zealand	1.2 % of GDP
129	Mexico	1 % of GDP
130	Mozambique	1 % of GDP
131	Nigeria	1 % of GDP
132	Nepal	1 % of GDP
133	Papua New Guinea	1 % of GDP
134	Luxembourg	0.8 % of GDP
135	Malawi	0.76 % of GDP
136	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % of GDP
137	Mauritius	0.2 % of GDP
138	Vanuatu	NaN % of GDP
139	Nauru	NaN % of GDP
140	Russia	NaN % of GDP
141	Saudi Arabia	13 % of GDP
142	Syrian Arab Republic	5.9 % of GDP
143	Yemen	5.2 % of GDP
144	Eswatini	4.75 % of GDP
145	Rwanda	3.1 % of GDP
146	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
147	Singapore	4.9 % of GDP
148	Turkey	4.5 % of GDP
149	Tajikistan	3.9 % of GDP
150	Zimbabwe	3.8 % of GDP
151	Turkmenistan	3.4 % of GDP
152	United States	3.2 % of GDP
153	United Arab Emirates	3.1 % of GDP
154	Taiwan	2.8 % of GDP
155	Namibia	2.6 % of GDP
156	Vietnam	2.5 % of GDP
157	United Kingdom	2.32 % of GDP
158	Sweden	2.1 % of GDP
159	Uganda	2.1 % of GDP
160	Uzbekistan	2 % of GDP
161	Seychelles	1.8 % of GDP
162	Togo	1.8 % of GDP
163	Slovenia	1.7 % of GDP
164	South Africa	1.6 % of GDP
165	Sierra Leone	1.5 % of GDP
166	Senegal	1.4 % of GDP
167	San Marino	NaN % of GDP
168	Tunisia	1.5 % of GDP
169	Trinidad and Tobago	1.4 % of GDP
170	Thailand	1.4 % of GDP
171	Ukraine	1.4 % of GDP
172	Burkina Faso	1.4 % of GDP
173	Spain	1.15 % of GDP
174	Kazakhstan	1 % of GDP
175	Switzerland	1 % of GDP
176	Somalia	0.9 % of GDP
177	Saint Lucia	NaN % of GDP
178	Tonga	NaN % of GDP
179	Uruguay	1.1 % of GDP
180	Sao Tome and Principe	0.8 % of GDP
181	Timor-Leste	NaN % of GDP
182	Tuvalu	NaN % 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
187	Zambia	0.9 % 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 2002, North Korea led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 31.3%, while the global range spanned from 0.11% to this maximum. The global average for military expenditures as a percentage of GDP in 2002 was 3.00%, providing a benchmark for comparing individual national commitments to defense spending.

Disproportionate Military Spending: Drivers and Implications

The significant variance in military expenditures as a percentage of GDP highlights diverse national priorities and security considerations. Countries like North Korea and Angola (at 22%) demonstrate a heavy reliance on military investment, potentially driven by geopolitical tensions and internal security challenges. For North Korea, its high spending is likely linked to its ongoing military tensions and isolation, necessitating a substantial allocation for defense. Similarly, Angola's expenditure may reflect its recovery from a prolonged civil war, requiring extensive military rebuilding and security assurance.

In contrast, countries at the lower end, such as Bermuda with 0.11% and Tanzania at 0.2%, allocate minimal GDP percentages to military spending, possibly due to a focus on economic development or stable geopolitical environments that reduce the perceived need for large military budgets.

Regional Patterns and Economic Context

Economic capacity and regional security dynamics heavily influence military expenditures. In the Middle East, countries like Saudi Arabia (at 13%) and Oman (at 12.2%) allocate substantial portions of their GDP to military spending. This is often driven by both wealth from natural resources and regional security concerns. The Gulf region's strategic importance and ongoing regional conflicts necessitate strong military capabilities, reflected in these high percentages.

Conversely, in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, countries such as Tanzania and Mauritius exhibit lower military expenditures. Economic constraints and distinct developmental priorities often lead these nations to allocate more resources to sectors like education and healthcare, rather than defense.

Year-over-Year Changes and Economic Implications

The changes in military expenditures from the previous year reveal strategic shifts and economic pressures. Ethiopia saw the largest increase, jumping by 10.10 percentage points to 12.6%, a massive 404.0% rise. This surge can be attributed to heightened security needs and military modernization efforts following regional conflicts. Similarly, North Korea's increase of 6.30 percentage points reflects ongoing military fortification efforts amidst international tensions.

On the other hand, countries like Eritrea experienced the most significant decrease, dropping by 9.60 percentage points to 19.8%. This reduction might indicate a strategic realignment or economic pressure to reallocate resources toward economic recovery and development. Nigeria, with a decrease of 9.00 percentage points, suggests a significant policy shift or economic constraint impacting defense budgets.

Global Military Spending Trends and Policy Implications

The average global decrease of 0.06 percentage points (a 5.5% reduction) in military expenditures indicates a slight global trend towards reducing military spending as a percentage of GDP. This reduction could be influenced by a combination of geopolitical stabilization in certain regions and increased emphasis on economic development and social welfare expenditures.

However, the persistence of high military spending in specific regions underscores the ongoing importance of defense in national policy, particularly in areas with ongoing conflicts or strategic geopolitical interests. Policymakers must balance military needs with economic growth objectives, ensuring that defense expenditures do not hinder broader developmental goals.

In conclusion, the 2002 data on Military Expenditures (% of GDP) reveals a complex interplay between geopolitical dynamics, economic capacity, and national priorities, offering valuable insights into the strategic decisions shaping global military spending patterns.

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.

Visit Data Source

Historical Data by Year

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

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

More Economy Facts

Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country

Explore the agriculture value added as a share of GDP by country, measuring the economic impact of farming sectors. This statistic highlights the importance of agriculture in national economies and informs investment decisions.

View data

Browse All Economy

Explore more facts and statistics in this category

All Categories

Discover more categories with comprehensive global data