Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2013

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	Afghanistan	10 % of GDP
2	United Arab Emirates	6.4 % of GDP
3	Burundi	5.9 % of GDP
4	Myanmar	4.8 % of GDP
5	Bahrain	4.5 % of GDP
6	Algeria	4.3 % of GDP
7	Colombia	3.8 % of GDP
8	Solomon Islands	3.7 % of GDP
9	Djibouti	3.6 % of GDP
10	Antigua and Barbuda	3.3 % of GDP
11	Cuba	3.2 % of GDP
12	Angola	3 % of GDP
13	Australia	3 % of GDP
14	Sri Lanka	2.9 % of GDP
15	Botswana	2.8 % of GDP
16	Comoros	2.8 % of GDP
17	Azerbaijan	2.6 % of GDP
18	Bulgaria	2.6 % of GDP
19	China	2.6 % of GDP
20	Central African Republic	2.6 % of GDP
21	Brunei Darussalam	2.4 % of GDP
22	Cambodia	2.4 % of GDP
23	Chile	2.1 % of GDP
24	Cyprus	2 % of GDP
25	Congo	1.7 % of GDP
26	Chad	1.6 % of GDP
27	Benin	1.5 % of GDP
28	Albania	1.49 % of GDP
29	Bangladesh	1.4 % of GDP
30	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1.4 % of GDP
31	Belarus	1.4 % of GDP
32	Belgium	1.3 % of GDP
33	Brazil	1.3 % of GDP
34	Cameroon	1.3 % of GDP
35	Denmark	1.3 % of GDP
36	Belize	1.2 % of GDP
37	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.2 % of GDP
38	Canada	1.1 % of GDP
39	Bhutan	1 % of GDP
40	Bolivia	0.9 % of GDP
41	Austria	0.8 % of GDP
42	Barbados	0.8 % of GDP
43	Costa Rica	0.8 % of GDP
44	Bahamas	0.6 % of GDP
45	Argentina	0.5 % of GDP
46	Cabo Verde	0.4 % of GDP
47	Bermuda	0.11 % of GDP
48	Dominica	NaN % of GDP
49	Jordan	9.5 % of GDP
50	Iraq	8.6 % of GDP
51	Israel	7.4 % of GDP
52	Eritrea	6.3 % of GDP
53	Greece	4.3 % of GDP
54	Kuwait	3.7 % of GDP
55	Guinea	3.4 % of GDP
56	Kyrgyzstan	2.8 % of GDP
57	South Korea	2.7 % of GDP
58	France	2.6 % of GDP
59	Iran	2.5 % of GDP
60	Ecuador	2.3 % of GDP
61	Egypt	2.2 % of GDP
62	Estonia	2 % of GDP
63	Finland	2 % of GDP
64	Georgia	1.9 % of GDP
65	Guyana	1.9 % of GDP
66	Gabon	1.8 % of GDP
67	India	1.8 % of GDP
68	Italy	1.8 % of GDP
69	Kenya	1.8 % of GDP
70	Hungary	1.75 % of GDP
71	Ghana	1.7 % of GDP
72	Fiji	1.6 % of GDP
73	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
74	Honduras	1.5 % of GDP
75	Croatia	1.5 % of GDP
76	Côte d'Ivoire	1.5 % of GDP
77	Czech Republic	1 % of GDP
78	Japan	1 % of GDP
79	Ireland	0.9 % of GDP
80	Ethiopia	0.9 % of GDP
81	Indonesia	0.9 % of GDP
82	Jamaica	0.9 % of GDP
83	Dominican Republic	0.7 % of GDP
84	Gambia	0.7 % of GDP
85	El Salvador	0.6 % of GDP
86	Equatorial Guinea	0.1 % of GDP
87	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	NaN % of GDP
88	Faroe Islands	NaN % of GDP
89	Grenada	NaN % 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	Madagascar	5.1 % of GDP
100	Maldives	5 % of GDP
101	Morocco	4.8 % of GDP
102	Guinea-Bissau	4.3 % of GDP
103	Libya	3.1 % of GDP
104	Pakistan	3.1 % of GDP
105	Lebanon	2.5 % of GDP
106	Portugal	2.3 % of GDP
107	Malaysia	2.03 % of GDP
108	Lesotho	1.9 % of GDP
109	Norway	1.9 % of GDP
110	Poland	1.9 % of GDP
111	Romania	1.9 % of GDP
112	Netherlands	1.6 % of GDP
113	New Zealand	1.5 % of GDP
114	Paraguay	1.5 % of GDP
115	Mali	1.3 % of GDP
116	Nepal	1.3 % of GDP
117	Suriname	1.2 % of GDP
118	Kazakhstan	1.1 % of GDP
119	Latvia	1.1 % of GDP
120	Slovakia	1.08 % of GDP
121	Peru	1 % of GDP
122	Panama	1 % of GDP
123	Lithuania	0.9 % of GDP
124	Luxembourg	0.9 % of GDP
125	Niger	0.9 % of GDP
126	Nigeria	0.9 % of GDP
127	Nicaragua	0.9 % of GDP
128	Philippines	0.9 % of GDP
129	Liberia	0.8 % of GDP
130	Mongolia	0.8 % of GDP
131	Malawi	0.8 % of GDP
132	Mozambique	0.6 % of GDP
133	Mexico	0.5 % of GDP
134	Papua New Guinea	0.5 % of GDP
135	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % of GDP
136	Laos	0.2 % of GDP
137	Mauritius	0.1 % of GDP
138	Malta	0 % of GDP
139	New Caledonia	NaN % of GDP
140	Vanuatu	NaN % of GDP
141	Nauru	NaN % of GDP
142	Saudi Arabia	9.1 % of GDP
143	Yemen	6.6 % of GDP
144	Turkey	5.3 % of GDP
145	United States	4.6 % of GDP
146	Russia	3.9 % of GDP
147	Zimbabwe	3.8 % of GDP
148	Namibia	3.7 % of GDP
149	Singapore	3.6 % of GDP
150	Uzbekistan	3.5 % of GDP
151	Eswatini	2.6 % of GDP
152	United Kingdom	2.5 % of GDP
153	Vietnam	2.5 % of GDP
154	Taiwan	2.2 % of GDP
155	Togo	1.9 % of GDP
156	Thailand	1.8 % of GDP
157	Uganda	1.8 % of GDP
158	Zambia	1.8 % of GDP
159	South Africa	1.7 % of GDP
160	Slovenia	1.7 % of GDP
161	Senegal	1.6 % of GDP
162	Ukraine	1.6 % of GDP
163	Rwanda	1.3 % of GDP
164	Saint Kitts and Nevis	NaN % of GDP
165	Syrian Arab Republic	3.6 % of GDP
166	Turkmenistan	1.6 % of GDP
167	Sweden	1.5 % of GDP
168	Tajikistan	1.5 % of GDP
169	Tunisia	1.5 % of GDP
170	Spain	1.2 % of GDP
171	Burkina Faso	1.1 % of GDP
172	Switzerland	1 % of GDP
173	Somalia	0.9 % of GDP
174	Tonga	0.9 % of GDP
175	Tanzania	0.9 % of GDP
176	Seychelles	0.8 % of GDP
177	Venezuela	0.7 % of GDP
178	Sierra Leone	0.6 % of GDP
179	San Marino	NaN % of GDP
180	Saint Lucia	NaN % of GDP
181	Uruguay	0.9 % of GDP
182	Trinidad and Tobago	0.6 % of GDP
183	Sao Tome and Principe	0.5 % of GDP
184	Timor-Leste	NaN % of GDP
185	Tuvalu	NaN % 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 2013, Oman led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 11.40%, marking the highest national defense spending relative to GDP globally. The range of military expenditures spanned from 0.00% to 11.40% among the 171 countries analyzed. The global average for military expenditures as a percentage of GDP was 2.28%, while the median value was 1.60%.

High Military Expenditures in the Middle East

The Middle East dominated the top ranks for military expenditures as a percentage of GDP in 2013. Alongside Oman, countries like Afghanistan and Qatar each reported military spending at 10% of their GDP. Jordan and Saudi Arabia followed with 9.5% and 9.1%, respectively. This trend can be attributed to the geopolitical instability in the region, prompting these nations to allocate significant portions of their economic resources to defense. Additionally, oil wealth in many of these nations provides the fiscal flexibility to sustain high military budgets without crippling other sectors of their economies.

Minimal Military Spending in Select Countries

Conversely, countries such as Malta and Iceland reported 0% military expenditure relative to GDP in 2013. Other nations like Mauritius and Equatorial Guinea had negligible spending at 0.1% each. These figures reflect either a strategic decision to rely on alliances for defense, such as NATO in Iceland’s case, or a focus on other pressing developmental needs over military investments. In many small island nations, economic resources are often prioritized for infrastructure and social services rather than defense.

Year-over-Year Changes and Their Implications

In 2013, the average year-over-year change in military expenditures as a percentage of GDP was a decrease of 0.02%. Afghanistan saw the most significant increase of 8.10%, reflecting a 426.3% surge, likely due to heightened security needs following the drawdown of international forces. Madagascar also experienced a notable increase of 4.10%, or 410.0%United Arab Emirates increased its spending by 3.30%, a 106.5% rise, aligning with regional military build-ups.

On the other hand, significant decreases were seen in the Syrian Arab Republic, with a -2.30% change, and Eswatini, with -2.10%. These reductions, at -39.0% and -44.7% respectively, could be attributed to economic constraints or strategic reallocations of resources. The conflict in Syria likely disrupted fiscal allocations, while Eswatini might have redirected funds to pressing economic issues.

Economic and Policy Drivers Behind Military Spending

The data suggests that economic capacity and geopolitical considerations heavily influence military expenditures. Countries with robust economies, like those in the oil-rich Middle East, can afford higher defense spending without compromising other areas. In contrast, nations with limited economic resources often prioritize domestic development over military expansion. Policy decisions, such as alliances and regional security strategies, also play crucial roles. For instance, nations under the protective umbrella of larger military alliances may opt for minimal defense spending, directing funds to economic growth and social welfare instead.

Overall, the 2013 data on military expenditures as a percentage of GDP highlights the diverse approaches countries take based on their individual economic capacities, security needs, and strategic priorities. Understanding these dynamics is essential for analyzing global military trends and the potential impacts on international relations and economic 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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