Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2011

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	Burundi	5.9 % of GDP
2	Bahrain	4.5 % of GDP
3	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4.5 % of GDP
4	Brunei Darussalam	4.5 % of GDP
5	China	4.3 % of GDP
6	Cuba	3.8 % of GDP
7	Cyprus	3.8 % of GDP
8	Djibouti	3.8 % of GDP
9	Angola	3.6 % of GDP
10	Colombia	3.4 % of GDP
11	Algeria	3.3 % of GDP
12	Botswana	3.3 % of GDP
13	United Arab Emirates	3.1 % of GDP
14	Australia	3 % of GDP
15	Solomon Islands	3 % of GDP
16	Cambodia	3 % of GDP
17	Comoros	2.8 % of GDP
18	Chile	2.7 % of GDP
19	Azerbaijan	2.6 % of GDP
20	Bulgaria	2.6 % of GDP
21	Sri Lanka	2.6 % of GDP
22	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	2.5 % of GDP
23	Myanmar	2.1 % of GDP
24	Afghanistan	1.9 % of GDP
25	Brazil	1.7 % of GDP
26	Chad	1.7 % of GDP
27	Albania	1.49 % of GDP
28	Belize	1.4 % of GDP
29	Belarus	1.4 % of GDP
30	Belgium	1.3 % of GDP
31	Bangladesh	1.3 % of GDP
32	Bolivia	1.3 % of GDP
33	Cameroon	1.3 % of GDP
34	Denmark	1.3 % of GDP
35	Canada	1.1 % of GDP
36	Benin	1 % of GDP
37	Bhutan	1 % of GDP
38	Congo	0.9 % of GDP
39	Central African Republic	0.9 % of GDP
40	Argentina	0.8 % of GDP
41	Austria	0.8 % of GDP
42	Barbados	0.8 % of GDP
43	Bahamas	0.7 % of GDP
44	Costa Rica	0.6 % of GDP
45	Antigua and Barbuda	0.5 % of GDP
46	Cabo Verde	0.5 % of GDP
47	Bermuda	0.11 % of GDP
48	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
49	Iraq	8.6 % of GDP
50	Jordan	8.6 % of GDP
51	Israel	7.3 % of GDP
52	Eritrea	6.3 % of GDP
53	Kuwait	5.3 % of GDP
54	Greece	4.3 % of GDP
55	Egypt	3.4 % of GDP
56	Indonesia	3 % of GDP
57	Kenya	2.8 % of GDP
58	South Korea	2.7 % of GDP
59	France	2.6 % of GDP
60	India	2.5 % of GDP
61	Iran	2.5 % of GDP
62	Croatia	2.39 % of GDP
63	Estonia	2 % of GDP
64	Finland	2 % of GDP
65	Fiji	1.9 % of GDP
66	Georgia	1.9 % of GDP
67	Guyana	1.8 % of GDP
68	Italy	1.8 % of GDP
69	Hungary	1.75 % of GDP
70	Ghana	1.7 % of GDP
71	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
72	Côte d'Ivoire	1.5 % of GDP
73	Czech Republic	1.46 % of GDP
74	Ethiopia	1.2 % of GDP
75	Guinea	1.1 % of GDP
76	Ecuador	0.9 % of GDP
77	Ireland	0.9 % of GDP
78	Gambia	0.9 % of GDP
79	Gabon	0.9 % of GDP
80	Japan	0.8 % of GDP
81	Dominican Republic	0.7 % of GDP
82	El Salvador	0.6 % of GDP
83	Equatorial Guinea	0.1 % of GDP
84	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
85	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
86	Grenada	NaN % of GDP
87	Honduras	0.6 % of GDP
88	Jamaica	0.6 % of GDP
89	Kyrgyzstan	0.5 % of GDP
90	Guatemala	0.4 % of GDP
91	Haiti	0.4 % of GDP
92	Iceland	0 % 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	Mauritania	5.5 % of GDP
99	Maldives	5.5 % of GDP
100	Morocco	5 % of GDP
101	Libya	3.9 % of GDP
102	Lebanon	3.1 % of GDP
103	Guinea-Bissau	3.1 % of GDP
104	Pakistan	3 % of GDP
105	Lesotho	2.6 % of GDP
106	Portugal	2.3 % of GDP
107	Malaysia	2.03 % of GDP
108	Mali	1.9 % of GDP
109	Norway	1.9 % of GDP
110	Romania	1.9 % of GDP
111	Slovakia	1.87 % of GDP
112	Poland	1.71 % of GDP
113	Netherlands	1.6 % of GDP
114	Nepal	1.6 % of GDP
115	Nigeria	1.5 % of GDP
116	Peru	1.5 % of GDP
117	Mongolia	1.4 % of GDP
118	Papua New Guinea	1.4 % of GDP
119	Liberia	1.3 % of GDP
120	Malawi	1.3 % of GDP
121	Niger	1.3 % of GDP
122	Latvia	1.2 % of GDP
123	Lithuania	1.2 % of GDP
124	Kazakhstan	1.1 % of GDP
125	Madagascar	1 % of GDP
126	New Zealand	1 % of GDP
127	Paraguay	1 % of GDP
128	Panama	1 % of GDP
129	Luxembourg	0.9 % of GDP
130	Philippines	0.9 % of GDP
131	Mozambique	0.8 % of GDP
132	Malta	0.7 % of GDP
133	Suriname	0.6 % of GDP
134	Nicaragua	0.6 % of GDP
135	Laos	0.5 % of GDP
136	Mexico	0.5 % of GDP
137	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % of GDP
138	Mauritius	0.3 % of GDP
139	New Caledonia	NaN % of GDP
140	Vanuatu	NaN % of GDP
141	Nauru	NaN % of GDP
142	Saudi Arabia	10 % of GDP
143	Syrian Arab Republic	5.9 % of GDP
144	Turkey	5.3 % of GDP
145	Singapore	4.9 % of GDP
146	United States	4.06 % of GDP
147	Russia	3.9 % of GDP
148	Namibia	3.7 % of GDP
149	Uzbekistan	3.5 % of GDP
150	Turkmenistan	3.4 % of GDP
151	Rwanda	2.9 % of GDP
152	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
153	Yemen	6.6 % of GDP
154	Eswatini	4.7 % of GDP
155	Zimbabwe	3.8 % of GDP
156	Vietnam	2.5 % of GDP
157	United Kingdom	2.4 % of GDP
158	Sierra Leone	2.3 % of GDP
159	Taiwan	2.2 % of GDP
160	Uganda	2.2 % of GDP
161	Seychelles	2 % of GDP
162	Thailand	1.8 % of GDP
163	Zambia	1.8 % of GDP
164	South Africa	1.7 % of GDP
165	Slovenia	1.7 % of GDP
166	Togo	1.6 % of GDP
167	Uruguay	1.6 % of GDP
168	Sweden	1.5 % of GDP
169	Tajikistan	1.5 % of GDP
170	Senegal	1.4 % of GDP
171	San Marino	NaN % of GDP
172	Tunisia	1.4 % of GDP
173	Ukraine	1.4 % of GDP
174	Spain	1.2 % of GDP
175	Burkina Faso	1.2 % of GDP
176	Venezuela	1.2 % of GDP
177	Switzerland	1 % of GDP
178	Somalia	0.9 % of GDP
179	Saint Lucia	NaN % of GDP
180	Tonga	0.9 % of GDP
181	Sao Tome and Principe	0.8 % of GDP
182	Trinidad and Tobago	0.3 % 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 2011, Oman had the highest Military Expenditures (% of GDP) at 11.4%, while the global range spanned from 0.00% to 11.40%. The average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP across 171 countries was 2.32%, providing a key measure of national defense priorities.

High Military Expenditures: Middle Eastern Dominance

The data for 2011 reveals a significant concentration of high military expenditures in the Middle East. Countries like Oman (11.4%), Saudi Arabia (10%), and Qatar (10%) lead the list. This pattern reflects the geopolitical tensions and security concerns prevalent in the region. The high percentage of GDP allocated to military spending in these countries can be attributed to various factors including regional conflicts, defense strategies against potential threats, and the protection of valuable resources such as oil. Furthermore, the presence of external military bases and alliances, particularly with Western nations, often necessitates increased military budgets.

Minimal Military Spending: A Peaceful Approach

In contrast, several countries exhibit minimal military expenditures as a percentage of GDP. Iceland spends 0.00%, reflecting its lack of a standing army and reliance on NATO for defense. Similarly, Equatorial Guinea (0.1%) and Bermuda (0.11%) demonstrate low military spending, which may be associated with their strategic decisions to prioritize development and economic growth over military investments. These nations often benefit from stable geopolitical environments and international agreements that reduce the necessity for large defense budgets.

Economic Factors Influencing Military Budgets

The relationship between a country's economy and its military spending is complex. Nations with substantial natural resources, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, can afford higher military expenditures due to their significant oil revenues. Conversely, countries like Haiti (0.4%) and Guatemala (0.4%) allocate a smaller portion of their GDP to military spending, likely due to limited economic resources and a focus on addressing more immediate development challenges. This economic constraint often results in a strategic emphasis on internal stability and humanitarian needs over military expansion.

Static Trends in Military Expenditures

Interestingly, the year-over-year changes in military expenditures as a percentage of GDP were static, with an average change of 0.00% across all countries. This lack of fluctuation suggests a period of relative stability in military budgeting priorities globally. The leading countries in terms of military spending, such as Oman and Saudi Arabia, maintained consistent expenditure levels, indicating entrenched defense policies that are less susceptible to short-term economic or political changes. Such steadiness might also reflect long-term strategic commitments and ongoing defense initiatives that require sustained investment.

Overall, the data from 2011 highlights distinct regional patterns and economic influences on military expenditures as a percentage of GDP. While some countries prioritize defense spending due to geopolitical pressures, others focus on economic development and stability, leading to a diverse landscape of military investment strategies worldwide.

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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