Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2006

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

188 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	8.8 % of GDP
3	Burundi	5.6 % of GDP
4	Brunei Darussalam	5.1 % of GDP
5	Bahrain	4.9 % of GDP
6	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4.5 % of GDP
7	China	4.3 % of GDP
8	Djibouti	4.3 % of GDP
9	Cyprus	3.8 % of GDP
10	Chile	3.5 % of GDP
11	Botswana	3.4 % 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	Australia	2.7 % of GDP
18	Azerbaijan	2.6 % of GDP
19	Bulgaria	2.6 % of GDP
20	Sri Lanka	2.6 % of GDP
21	Benin	2.3 % of GDP
22	Myanmar	2.1 % of GDP
23	Bangladesh	1.8 % of GDP
24	Cuba	1.8 % of GDP
25	Afghanistan	1.7 % of GDP
26	Belize	1.7 % of GDP
27	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.5 % of GDP
28	Cameroon	1.5 % of GDP
29	Denmark	1.5 % of GDP
30	Albania	1.49 % of GDP
31	Bolivia	1.4 % of GDP
32	Belarus	1.4 % of GDP
33	Congo	1.4 % of GDP
34	Argentina	1.3 % of GDP
35	Belgium	1.3 % of GDP
36	Canada	1.1 % of GDP
37	Bhutan	1 % of GDP
38	Austria	0.9 % of GDP
39	Barbados	NaN % of GDP
40	Brazil	1.3 % of GDP
41	Central African Republic	1 % of GDP
42	Cabo Verde	0.7 % of GDP
43	Bermuda	0.11 % of GDP
44	Bahamas	NaN % of GDP
45	Solomon Islands	NaN % of GDP
46	Chad	1 % of GDP
47	Costa Rica	0.4 % of GDP
48	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
49	Eritrea	17.7 % of GDP
50	Jordan	11.4 % of GDP
51	Israel	7.7 % of GDP
52	Greece	4.3 % of GDP
53	Kuwait	4.2 % of GDP
54	Egypt	3.4 % of GDP
55	Ethiopia	3.4 % of GDP
56	Gabon	3.4 % of GDP
57	Iran	3.3 % of GDP
58	Indonesia	3 % of GDP
59	Guinea	2.9 % of GDP
60	France	2.6 % of GDP
61	Honduras	2.55 % of GDP
62	India	2.5 % of GDP
63	Croatia	2.39 % of GDP
64	Fiji	2.2 % of GDP
65	Equatorial Guinea	2.1 % of GDP
66	Ecuador	2 % of GDP
67	Estonia	2 % of GDP
68	Finland	2 % of GDP
69	Czech Republic	1.81 % of GDP
70	Italy	1.8 % of GDP
71	Hungary	1.75 % of GDP
72	Côte d'Ivoire	1.6 % of GDP
73	Kenya	1.6 % of GDP
74	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
75	Kyrgyzstan	1.4 % of GDP
76	El Salvador	1 % of GDP
77	Japan	1 % of GDP
78	Ireland	0.9 % of GDP
79	Guyana	0.9 % of GDP
80	Haiti	0.9 % of GDP
81	Ghana	0.8 % of GDP
82	Georgia	0.59 % of GDP
83	Guatemala	0.5 % of GDP
84	Gambia	0.4 % of GDP
85	Dominican Republic	0 % of GDP
86	French Guiana	NaN % of GDP
87	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
88	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
89	Grenada	NaN % of GDP
90	Jamaica	0.4 % of GDP
91	Iceland	0 % of GDP
92	Iraq	NaN % 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	Liberia	7.5 % of GDP
98	Madagascar	7.2 % of GDP
99	North Macedonia	6 % of GDP
100	Maldives	5.5 % of GDP
101	Morocco	5 % of GDP
102	Libya	3.9 % of GDP
103	Pakistan	3.9 % of GDP
104	Lebanon	3.1 % of GDP
105	Guinea-Bissau	3.1 % of GDP
106	South Korea	2.6 % of GDP
107	Romania	2.47 % of GDP
108	Portugal	2.3 % of GDP
109	Mongolia	2.2 % of GDP
110	Lesotho	2.1 % of GDP
111	Malaysia	2.03 % of GDP
112	Lithuania	1.9 % of GDP
113	Mali	1.9 % of GDP
114	Norway	1.9 % of GDP
115	Slovakia	1.87 % of GDP
116	Poland	1.71 % of GDP
117	Netherlands	1.6 % of GDP
118	Nepal	1.5 % of GDP
119	Mauritania	1.4 % of GDP
120	Niger	1.4 % of GDP
121	Peru	1.4 % of GDP
122	Papua New Guinea	1.4 % of GDP
123	Mozambique	1.3 % of GDP
124	Latvia	1.2 % of GDP
125	Malta	1 % of GDP
126	New Zealand	1 % of GDP
127	Panama	1 % of GDP
128	Kazakhstan	0.9 % of GDP
129	Luxembourg	0.9 % of GDP
130	Paraguay	0.9 % of GDP
131	Malawi	0.8 % of GDP
132	Mexico	0.8 % of GDP
133	Nigeria	0.8 % of GDP
134	Suriname	0.7 % of GDP
135	Nicaragua	0.7 % of GDP
136	Laos	0.4 % of GDP
137	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % 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	Philippines	0.9 % of GDP
143	Russia	NaN % of GDP
144	Saudi Arabia	10 % of GDP
145	Yemen	6.4 % of GDP
146	Turkey	5.3 % of GDP
147	United States	4.06 % of GDP
148	Rwanda	2.9 % of GDP
149	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
150	Syrian Arab Republic	5.9 % of GDP
151	Singapore	4.9 % of GDP
152	Zimbabwe	4 % of GDP
153	Tajikistan	3.9 % of GDP
154	Turkmenistan	3.4 % of GDP
155	Vietnam	2.5 % of GDP
156	Taiwan	2.4 % of GDP
157	United Kingdom	2.4 % of GDP
158	Namibia	2.3 % of GDP
159	Uganda	2.2 % of GDP
160	Seychelles	2.1 % of GDP
161	Uruguay	2.1 % of GDP
162	Uzbekistan	2 % 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	South Africa	1.5 % of GDP
168	Senegal	1.4 % of GDP
169	San Marino	NaN % of GDP
170	Togo	1.6 % of GDP
171	Sweden	1.5 % of GDP
172	Tunisia	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	Venezuela	1.2 % of GDP
178	Switzerland	1 % of GDP
179	Somalia	0.9 % of GDP
180	Saint Lucia	NaN % of GDP
181	Trinidad and Tobago	0.6 % of GDP
182	Tonga	NaN % of GDP
183	Sao Tome and Principe	0.8 % of GDP
184	Timor-Leste	NaN % of GDP
185	Tuvalu	NaN % of GDP
186	Tanzania	0.2 % of GDP
187	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	NaN % of GDP
188	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 2006, Eritrea led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 17.70%, illustrating a significant commitment to military spending. The global range for this metric spanned from a minimum of 0.00% to the maximum seen in Eritrea. The average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP worldwide was 2.53%, with a median value of 1.80%, highlighting a broad spectrum of national defense priorities.

Concentration of Military Spending in the Middle East and Africa

The data reveals a pronounced concentration of high military expenditures in the Middle East and Africa. Countries like Oman and Jordan each allocated 11.4% of their GDP to military spending, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar both dedicated 10%. These nations are situated in geopolitically sensitive regions, which often necessitate heightened defense budgets. In Africa, Angola spent 8.8% and Madagascar allocated 7.2% of their GDP, reflecting internal security challenges and regional instability.

The Economic Impact of Low Military Expenditures

Conversely, several countries reported minimal military expenditures. The Dominican Republic and Iceland both registered 0%, focusing their resources elsewhere. Countries like Mauritius and Tanzania recorded just 0.2%. These nations typically enjoy stable geopolitical environments, allowing them to prioritize economic development and social services over military investments.

Significant Year-over-Year Changes

The year-over-year analysis shows noteworthy shifts in military spending. Liberia experienced the largest increase, from negligible levels to 7.5%, a remarkable 3650% rise, as it rebuilt its military post-civil war. Similarly, Madagascar increased its military expenditures by 6.00%, a 500% change, likely due to internal security concerns. On the decline, Jordan reduced its spending by 3.20%, a 21.9% decrease, possibly reflecting budgetary reallocations or improved regional security conditions.

Geopolitical Drivers of Military Expenditures

The data underscores the influence of geopolitical dynamics on military expenditures. In regions with ongoing conflicts or historical tensions, such as the Middle East and parts of Africa, countries often prioritize defense budgets. For example, Israel spent 7.7% of its GDP on military, driven by its strategic environment. Meanwhile, nations like Yemen, with 6.4%, face internal and external conflicts that necessitate higher military spending. These patterns highlight how geopolitical concerns can significantly impact national economic priorities.

Overall, the 2006 data on Military Expenditures (% of GDP) reveals a diverse landscape of military spending. While some nations prioritize defense due to strategic needs or regional instability, others leverage peaceful environments to focus on economic and social development.

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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