Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2005

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•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Antigua and Barbuda	NaN % of GDP
2	Angola	10.6 % of GDP
3	Bahrain	6.3 % of GDP
4	Burundi	6 % of GDP
5	Brunei Darussalam	5.1 % of GDP
6	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4.5 % of GDP
7	Djibouti	4.4 % of GDP
8	China	4.3 % of GDP
9	Botswana	3.9 % of GDP
10	Chile	3.8 % of GDP
11	Cyprus	3.8 % of GDP
12	Colombia	3.4 % of GDP
13	Algeria	3.2 % of GDP
14	United Arab Emirates	3.1 % of GDP
15	Cambodia	3 % of GDP
16	Comoros	3 % of GDP
17	Congo	2.8 % of GDP
18	Australia	2.7 % of GDP
19	Afghanistan	2.6 % of GDP
20	Azerbaijan	2.6 % of GDP
21	Bulgaria	2.6 % of GDP
22	Sri Lanka	2.6 % of GDP
23	Benin	2.4 % of GDP
24	Myanmar	2.1 % of GDP
25	Chad	2.1 % of GDP
26	Belize	2 % of GDP
27	Bangladesh	1.8 % of GDP
28	Brazil	1.8 % of GDP
29	Bhutan	1.8 % of GDP
30	Cuba	1.8 % of GDP
31	Bolivia	1.6 % of GDP
32	Cameroon	1.6 % of GDP
33	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.5 % of GDP
34	Cabo Verde	1.5 % of GDP
35	Denmark	1.5 % of GDP
36	Albania	1.49 % of GDP
37	Belarus	1.4 % of GDP
38	Argentina	1.3 % of GDP
39	Belgium	1.3 % of GDP
40	Canada	1.1 % of GDP
41	Austria	0.9 % of GDP
42	Barbados	NaN % of GDP
43	Bermuda	0.11 % of GDP
44	Bahamas	NaN % of GDP
45	Solomon Islands	NaN % of GDP
46	Central African Republic	1 % of GDP
47	Costa Rica	0.4 % of GDP
48	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
49	Jordan	14.6 % of GDP
50	Eritrea	13.4 % of GDP
51	Israel	8.7 % of GDP
52	Kuwait	5.3 % of GDP
53	Ethiopia	4.6 % of GDP
54	Greece	4.3 % of GDP
55	Egypt	3.4 % of GDP
56	Iran	3.3 % of GDP
57	Indonesia	3 % of GDP
58	India	2.93 % of GDP
59	South Korea	2.8 % of GDP
60	France	2.6 % of GDP
61	Equatorial Guinea	2.5 % of GDP
62	Croatia	2.39 % of GDP
63	Ecuador	2.2 % of GDP
64	Fiji	2.2 % of GDP
65	Czech Republic	2.02 % of GDP
66	Estonia	2 % of GDP
67	Finland	2 % of GDP
68	Italy	1.8 % of GDP
69	Hungary	1.75 % of GDP
70	Guinea	1.7 % of GDP
71	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
72	Honduras	1.4 % of GDP
73	Dominican Republic	1.1 % of GDP
74	El Salvador	1.1 % of GDP
75	Ireland	0.9 % of GDP
76	French Guiana	NaN % of GDP
77	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
78	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
79	Gabon	2 % of GDP
80	Kyrgyzstan	1.4 % of GDP
81	Kenya	1.3 % of GDP
82	Côte d'Ivoire	1.2 % of GDP
83	Japan	1 % of GDP
84	Guyana	0.9 % of GDP
85	Haiti	0.9 % of GDP
86	Guatemala	0.8 % of GDP
87	Ghana	0.6 % of GDP
88	Georgia	0.59 % of GDP
89	Gambia	0.3 % of GDP
90	Grenada	NaN % of GDP
91	Iraq	NaN % of GDP
92	Jamaica	0.4 % of GDP
93	North Korea	NaN % of GDP
94	Kiribati	NaN % of GDP
95	Oman	11.4 % of GDP
96	Qatar	10 % of GDP
97	North Macedonia	6 % of GDP
98	Maldives	5.5 % of GDP
99	Morocco	5 % of GDP
100	Pakistan	4.9 % of GDP
101	Libya	3.9 % of GDP
102	Lebanon	3.1 % of GDP
103	Guinea-Bissau	3.1 % of GDP
104	Romania	2.47 % of GDP
105	Lesotho	2.3 % of GDP
106	Portugal	2.3 % of GDP
107	Mongolia	2.2 % of GDP
108	Mozambique	2.2 % of GDP
109	Malaysia	2.03 % of GDP
110	Lithuania	1.9 % of GDP
111	Norway	1.9 % of GDP
112	Slovakia	1.89 % of GDP
113	Poland	1.71 % of GDP
114	Mauritania	1.7 % of GDP
115	Netherlands	1.6 % of GDP
116	Nepal	1.5 % of GDP
117	Peru	1.4 % of GDP
118	Papua New Guinea	1.4 % of GDP
119	Latvia	1.2 % of GDP
120	Madagascar	1.2 % of GDP
121	Niger	1.1 % of GDP
122	Panama	1.1 % of GDP
123	New Zealand	1 % of GDP
124	Philippines	1 % of GDP
125	Kazakhstan	0.9 % of GDP
126	Luxembourg	0.9 % of GDP
127	Mexico	0.9 % of GDP
128	Paraguay	0.9 % of GDP
129	Nigeria	0.8 % of GDP
130	Malawi	0.7 % of GDP
131	Malta	0.7 % of GDP
132	Suriname	0.7 % of GDP
133	Nicaragua	0.7 % of GDP
134	Laos	0.5 % of GDP
135	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % of GDP
136	Mali	0.4 % of GDP
137	Liberia	0.2 % of GDP
138	Mauritius	0.2 % of GDP
139	New Caledonia	NaN % of GDP
140	Vanuatu	NaN % of GDP
141	Nauru	NaN % of GDP
142	Russia	NaN % of GDP
143	Saudi Arabia	10 % of GDP
144	Yemen	7.8 % of GDP
145	Syrian Arab Republic	5.9 % of GDP
146	Singapore	4.9 % of GDP
147	Zimbabwe	4.3 % of GDP
148	Tajikistan	3.9 % of GDP
149	Rwanda	3.2 % of GDP
150	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
151	Turkey	5.3 % of GDP
152	Turkmenistan	3.4 % of GDP
153	United States	3.3 % of GDP
154	Namibia	3.1 % of GDP
155	Taiwan	2.6 % of GDP
156	Vietnam	2.5 % of GDP
157	United Kingdom	2.4 % of GDP
158	Uganda	2.2 % of GDP
159	Uruguay	2 % of GDP
160	Uzbekistan	2 % of GDP
161	Togo	1.9 % of GDP
162	Seychelles	1.8 % of GDP
163	Thailand	1.8 % of GDP
164	Zambia	1.8 % of GDP
165	Slovenia	1.7 % of GDP
166	Sierra Leone	1.7 % of GDP
167	Sweden	1.7 % of GDP
168	South Africa	1.5 % of GDP
169	Senegal	1.5 % of GDP
170	San Marino	NaN % of GDP
171	Tunisia	1.5 % of GDP
172	Venezuela	1.5 % of GDP
173	Ukraine	1.4 % of GDP
174	Eswatini	1.4 % of GDP
175	Burkina Faso	1.3 % of GDP
176	Spain	1.2 % of GDP
177	Switzerland	1 % of GDP
178	Somalia	0.9 % of GDP
179	Saint Lucia	NaN % of GDP
180	Sao Tome and Principe	0.8 % of GDP
181	Trinidad and Tobago	0.6 % of GDP
182	Tonga	NaN % of GDP
183	Timor-Leste	NaN % of GDP
184	Tuvalu	NaN % of GDP
185	Tanzania	0.2 % of GDP
186	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	NaN % of GDP
187	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 2005, Jordan led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 14.6%. Globally, military spending as a percentage of GDP ranged from 0.11% to 14.60% across the 163 countries with available data. The global average expenditure stood at 2.56%, providing a benchmark for evaluating national defense investments in 2005.

High Military Expenditures: Strategic Imperatives and Security Concerns

Countries with the highest military expenditures as a percentage of GDP often face unique strategic imperatives or security concerns. In Jordan and Israel, military spending accounted for 14.6% and 8.7% of GDP, respectively. These figures reflect ongoing regional security challenges and the need for robust defense capabilities. Similarly, Saudi Arabia and Oman, with expenditures of 10% and 11.4%, prioritize defense due to geopolitical tensions and the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf.

In Eritrea, military spending reached 13.4% of GDP, influenced by prolonged conflict with Ethiopia and the government's emphasis on military readiness. These high expenditure levels indicate how geopolitical factors and regional instability can drive nations to allocate substantial portions of their GDP to defense.

Economic Constraints and Minimal Military Spending

Conversely, countries with minimal military expenditures often do so due to economic constraints or strategic choices. Bermuda and Mauritius reported the lowest expenditures at 0.11% and 0.2% of GDP, respectively. These nations benefit from stable geopolitical environments and prioritize economic development over military investments.

Costa Rica, with a military expenditure of 0.4% of GDP, exemplifies a strategic decision to maintain no standing army, focusing instead on social and economic development. Similarly, Jamaica and Laos reported low expenditures, reflecting limited military engagement and prioritization of other sectors.

Year-over-Year Trends: Notable Changes in Military Spending

Year-over-year changes in military expenditures reveal significant shifts in national priorities. Angola experienced the largest increase, with spending rising by 8.70%, marking a 457.9% increase. This surge likely aligns with post-conflict reconstruction and stabilization efforts following years of civil war.

On the other hand, Jordan saw the most substantial decrease of -5.60%, a reduction of 27.7%. This drop may reflect a strategic reassessment or economic pressures necessitating a reallocation of resources. Maldives and Lebanon also reported significant decreases, possibly due to shifts in government priorities or fiscal constraints.

Global Context and Implications

The variation in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) in 2005 underscores the diverse strategic, economic, and geopolitical factors influencing defense spending. High expenditure countries often face external threats or aim to maintain regional influence, while those with lower spending prioritize economic growth and stability.

Understanding these patterns provides insight into how nations balance defense needs with broader economic objectives. As countries navigate changing geopolitical landscapes, the dynamics of military spending will continue to reflect their strategic priorities and challenges.

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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