Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2016

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

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

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	United Arab Emirates	NaN % of GDP
2	Afghanistan	28.09 % of GDP
3	Azerbaijan	5.1 % of GDP
4	Algeria	4.48 % of GDP
5	Bahrain	4.2 % of GDP
6	Angola	3.63 % of GDP
7	Colombia	3.28 % of GDP
8	Brunei Darussalam	2.43 % of GDP
9	Sri Lanka	2.43 % of GDP
10	Burundi	2.39 % of GDP
11	Cyprus	2.1 % of GDP
12	Chile	2.04 % of GDP
13	Botswana	2 % of GDP
14	Cambodia	2 % of GDP
15	China	1.99 % of GDP
16	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.72 % of GDP
17	Australia	1.71 % of GDP
18	Bolivia	1.47 % of GDP
19	Brazil	1.47 % of GDP
20	Cameroon	1.42 % of GDP
21	Belarus	1.3 % of GDP
22	Bulgaria	1.2 % of GDP
23	Denmark	1.2 % of GDP
24	Bangladesh	1.09 % of GDP
25	Benin	1.03 % of GDP
26	Canada	1 % of GDP
27	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0.98 % of GDP
28	Belgium	0.97 % of GDP
29	Argentina	0.91 % of GDP
30	Albania	0.85 % of GDP
31	Dominican Republic	0.61 % of GDP
32	Austria	0.55 % of GDP
33	Belize	NaN % of GDP
34	Chad	NaN % of GDP
35	Cabo Verde	NaN % of GDP
36	Iraq	8.7 % of GDP
37	Israel	5.58 % of GDP
38	Jordan	4.65 % of GDP
39	Ecuador	2.83 % of GDP
40	South Korea	2.8 % of GDP
41	Greece	2.46 % of GDP
42	India	2.4 % of GDP
43	Georgia	2.26 % of GDP
44	Estonia	2 % of GDP
45	Kenya	1.96 % of GDP
46	France	1.8 % of GDP
47	Egypt	1.76 % of GDP
48	Côte d'Ivoire	1.65 % of GDP
49	Fiji	1.47 % of GDP
50	Croatia	1.38 % of GDP
51	Finland	1.37 % of GDP
52	Gabon	1.34 % of GDP
53	Kazakhstan	1.21 % of GDP
54	Germany	1.18 % of GDP
55	Italy	1.1 % of GDP
56	Guyana	1.09 % of GDP
57	Honduras	1.05 % of GDP
58	Czech Republic	1.04 % of GDP
59	El Salvador	0.99 % of GDP
60	Japan	0.97 % of GDP
61	Ethiopia	0.91 % of GDP
62	Jamaica	0.86 % of GDP
63	Hungary	0.8 % of GDP
64	Indonesia	0.78 % of GDP
65	Ghana	0.56 % of GDP
66	Ireland	0.49 % of GDP
67	Guatemala	0.42 % of GDP
68	Iceland	0.13 % of GDP
69	Kyrgyzstan	NaN % of GDP
70	Kuwait	0 % of GDP
71	Laos	NaN % of GDP
72	Oman	11.8 % of GDP
73	South Sudan	10.32 % of GDP
74	Lebanon	4.04 % of GDP
75	Morocco	3.7 % of GDP
76	Pakistan	3.5 % of GDP
77	Poland	2 % of GDP
78	Lesotho	1.94 % of GDP
79	Paraguay	1.66 % of GDP
80	Montenegro	1.65 % of GDP
81	Norway	1.59 % of GDP
82	Malaysia	1.5 % of GDP
83	Lithuania	1.48 % of GDP
84	Mali	1.44 % of GDP
85	Portugal	1.29 % of GDP
86	Peru	1.28 % of GDP
87	Netherlands	1.15 % of GDP
88	New Zealand	1.13 % of GDP
89	North Macedonia	1.08 % of GDP
90	Niger	1.06 % of GDP
91	Slovakia	1.03 % of GDP
92	Mongolia	0.98 % of GDP
93	Malawi	0.93 % of GDP
94	Latvia	0.91 % of GDP
95	Nigeria	0.89 % of GDP
96	Liberia	0.82 % of GDP
97	Madagascar	0.69 % of GDP
98	Nicaragua	0.63 % of GDP
99	Malta	0.61 % of GDP
100	Mexico	0.59 % of GDP
101	Papua New Guinea	0.54 % of GDP
102	Luxembourg	0.5 % of GDP
103	Republic of Moldova	0.3 % of GDP
104	Mauritius	0.19 % of GDP
105	Nepal	NaN % of GDP
106	Saudi Arabia	12.6 % of GDP
107	United States	4.35 % of GDP
108	Namibia	4.2 % of GDP
109	Yemen	4.02 % of GDP
110	Ukraine	3.8 % of GDP
111	Singapore	3.52 % of GDP
112	Russia	3.49 % of GDP
113	Eswatini	3.17 % of GDP
114	Zimbabwe	2.79 % of GDP
115	Vietnam	2.37 % of GDP
116	Turkey	2.29 % of GDP
117	Uganda	2.2 % of GDP
118	United Kingdom	2.07 % of GDP
119	Uruguay	1.95 % of GDP
120	Guinea-Bissau	1.85 % of GDP
121	Tunisia	1.55 % of GDP
122	Zambia	1.55 % of GDP
123	Thailand	1.5 % of GDP
124	Timor-Leste	1.5 % of GDP
125	Romania	1.4 % of GDP
126	Burkina Faso	1.39 % of GDP
127	Serbia	1.37 % of GDP
128	South Africa	1.2 % of GDP
129	Philippines	1.19 % of GDP
130	Tanzania	1.13 % of GDP
131	Rwanda	1.12 % of GDP
132	Sweden	1.1 % of GDP
133	Tajikistan	1.1 % of GDP
134	Venezuela	1 % of GDP
135	Slovenia	0.97 % of GDP
136	Seychelles	0.89 % of GDP
137	Spain	0.86 % of GDP
138	Sierra Leone	0.72 % of GDP
139	Switzerland	0.64 % of GDP
140	Togo	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 2016, Afghanistan led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 28.09%, marking the highest percentage globally. The range of military spending as a percentage of GDP spanned from 0.00% to 28.09% across 132 countries. The global average was 2.16%, providing a baseline for understanding national defense priorities around the world.

High Military Expenditures: Economic and Security Context

The countries with the highest military expenditures as a percentage of GDP often face unique security challenges or have strategic economic interests in maintaining robust defense capabilities. Afghanistan leads with 28.09%, largely driven by ongoing conflict and international military aid. Saudi Arabia, spending 12.6% of its GDP, reflects its strategic position in the Middle East and its role in regional conflicts. Similarly, Oman with 11.8% and South Sudan with 10.32% also emphasize defense spending due to geopolitical tensions and internal security issues.

These high percentages indicate a prioritization of military readiness in nations experiencing either direct conflict or possessing significant strategic importance. For instance, Israel at 5.58% and Jordan at 4.65% both have longstanding security concerns that justify their elevated expenditures relative to GDP.

Low Military Expenditures: Stability and Economic Focus

Conversely, countries with the lowest military expenditures as a percentage of GDP often enjoy relative stability or prioritize other economic sectors. Kuwait recorded 0.00%, largely due to its security arrangements with international allies. Iceland at 0.13% and Mauritius at 0.19% similarly reflect stable geopolitical positions and an emphasis on non-military economic development.

For countries like Austria with 0.55% and Ghana with 0.56%, the focus on economic growth and social programs rather than military expansion is evident. This trend underscores a global divide where nations with fewer security threats or strong international alliances can afford to allocate less of their GDP to defense.

Year-over-Year Changes in Military Expenditures

Analyzing year-over-year changes, some countries demonstrated significant shifts in military spending. Saudi Arabia saw the largest increase of 4.62% (a 57.9% rise), driven by escalating regional tensions and a commitment to modernizing its military. Oman and Ukraine followed with increases of 3.19% and 1.03%, reflecting similar regional security concerns and strategic defense investments.

On the other hand, Venezuela experienced the most substantial decrease of -1.60% (a -61.5% decline), influenced by economic turmoil and resource constraints. Timor-Leste and Italy also reduced their military expenditures significantly, by -1.42% and -0.59% respectively, as part of broader economic adjustments and budget reallocations.

Implications of Military Spending Patterns

The variations in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) across countries reflect a complex interplay of security needs, economic capacity, and geopolitical strategies. Nations with higher percentages often face immediate threats or possess strategic military objectives, necessitating substantial investment in defense. In contrast, countries with lower percentages typically benefit from stable environments or external security guarantees, allowing them to focus resources on economic development and other priorities.

These patterns highlight the critical role of military spending in shaping national policies and international relations. Understanding these dynamics provides insights into global security frameworks and the economic priorities of nations around the world in 2016.

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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