Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2017

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

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

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Oman	13.73 % of GDP
2	South Sudan	10.93 % of GDP
3	Saudi Arabia	9.85 % of GDP
4	Congo	7.17 % of GDP
5	Algeria	6.55 % of GDP
6	United Arab Emirates	5.66 % of GDP
7	Israel	5.64 % of GDP
8	Russia	5.4 % of GDP
9	Kuwait	4.83 % of GDP
10	Lebanon	4.76 % of GDP
11	Bahrain	4.59 % of GDP
12	Jordan	4.58 % of GDP
13	Namibia	4.44 % of GDP
14	Myanmar	4.08 % of GDP
15	Niger	4 % of GDP
16	Yemen	3.97 % of GDP
17	Ukraine	3.67 % of GDP
18	Azerbaijan	3.64 % of GDP
19	Iraq	3.63 % of GDP
20	Pakistan	3.56 % of GDP
21	Brunei Darussalam	3.54 % of GDP
22	Colombia	3.39 % of GDP
23	Botswana	3.37 % of GDP
24	Singapore	3.35 % of GDP
25	United States	3.29 % of GDP
26	Morocco	3.28 % of GDP
27	Kyrgyzstan	3.15 % of GDP
28	Cuba	3.08 % of GDP
29	Mauritania	2.97 % of GDP
30	Angola	2.95 % of GDP
31	Chad	2.79 % of GDP
32	Iran	2.69 % of GDP
33	Mali	2.63 % of GDP
34	Greece	2.56 % of GDP
35	Timor-Leste	2.56 % of GDP
36	Guinea	2.49 % of GDP
37	India	2.47 % of GDP
38	Sri Lanka	2.44 % of GDP
39	Vietnam	2.44 % of GDP
40	Tunisia	2.32 % of GDP
41	South Korea	2.3 % of GDP
42	France	2.26 % of GDP
43	Georgia	2.23 % of GDP
44	Burundi	2.21 % of GDP
45	Ecuador	2.21 % of GDP
46	Zimbabwe	2.2 % of GDP
47	Estonia	2.17 % of GDP
48	Australia	2 % of GDP
49	Poland	1.99 % of GDP
50	China	1.9 % of GDP
51	Senegal	1.89 % of GDP
52	Chile	1.87 % of GDP
53	Togo	1.86 % of GDP
54	Cambodia	1.85 % of GDP
55	Lesotho	1.85 % of GDP
56	Uruguay	1.85 % of GDP
57	Portugal	1.84 % of GDP
58	United Kingdom	1.84 % of GDP
59	Eswatini	1.81 % of GDP
60	Cyprus	1.78 % of GDP
61	Guinea-Bissau	1.76 % of GDP
62	Turkey	1.73 % of GDP
63	Bolivia	1.68 % of GDP
64	Egypt	1.67 % of GDP
65	Norway	1.62 % of GDP
66	Montenegro	1.61 % of GDP
67	Cameroon	1.6 % of GDP
68	Honduras	1.59 % of GDP
69	Uganda	1.57 % of GDP
70	Zambia	1.53 % of GDP
71	Nepal	1.52 % of GDP
72	Italy	1.51 % of GDP
73	Thailand	1.5 % of GDP
74	Lithuania	1.49 % of GDP
75	Gambia	1.48 % of GDP
76	Latvia	1.47 % of GDP
77	Bangladesh	1.44 % of GDP
78	Bulgaria	1.44 % of GDP
79	Gabon	1.43 % of GDP
80	Guyana	1.42 % of GDP
81	Romania	1.42 % of GDP
82	Malaysia	1.41 % of GDP
83	Kenya	1.4 % of GDP
84	Croatia	1.38 % of GDP
85	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.34 % of GDP
86	Serbia	1.34 % of GDP
87	Finland	1.33 % of GDP
88	Brazil	1.32 % of GDP
89	Peru	1.29 % of GDP
90	Seychelles	1.29 % of GDP
91	Philippines	1.28 % of GDP
92	Paraguay	1.25 % of GDP
93	Albania	1.23 % of GDP
94	Burkina Faso	1.23 % of GDP
95	Tajikistan	1.22 % of GDP
96	Rwanda	1.21 % of GDP
97	Belarus	1.2 % of GDP
98	Germany	1.19 % of GDP
99	Côte d'Ivoire	1.18 % of GDP
100	Belize	1.17 % of GDP
101	Netherlands	1.17 % of GDP
102	Slovakia	1.16 % of GDP
103	Denmark	1.15 % of GDP
104	Benin	1.14 % of GDP
105	Tanzania	1.14 % of GDP
106	New Zealand	1.13 % of GDP
107	Trinidad and Tobago	1.12 % of GDP
108	South Africa	1.07 % of GDP
109	Sweden	1.04 % of GDP
110	Mozambique	1.03 % of GDP
111	Hungary	1.01 % of GDP
112	Venezuela	1 % of GDP
113	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0.99 % of GDP
114	Canada	0.99 % of GDP
115	Czech Republic	0.98 % of GDP
116	Fiji	0.98 % of GDP
117	North Macedonia	0.97 % of GDP
118	Argentina	0.95 % of GDP
119	Japan	0.93 % of GDP
120	Mongolia	0.92 % of GDP
121	Slovenia	0.92 % of GDP
122	Spain	0.91 % of GDP
123	Afghanistan	0.89 % of GDP
124	Indonesia	0.88 % of GDP
125	Belgium	0.87 % of GDP
126	El Salvador	0.87 % of GDP
127	Jamaica	0.82 % of GDP
128	Kazakhstan	0.82 % of GDP
129	Sierra Leone	0.81 % of GDP
130	Switzerland	0.71 % of GDP
131	Austria	0.68 % of GDP
132	Ethiopia	0.67 % of GDP
133	Papua New Guinea	0.66 % of GDP
134	Dominican Republic	0.64 % of GDP
135	Cabo Verde	0.63 % of GDP
136	Liberia	0.62 % of GDP
137	Malawi	0.61 % of GDP
138	Madagascar	0.59 % of GDP
139	Mexico	0.58 % of GDP
140	Nicaragua	0.55 % of GDP
141	Malta	0.53 % of GDP
142	Luxembourg	0.49 % of GDP
143	Republic of Moldova	0.44 % of GDP
144	Nigeria	0.43 % of GDP
145	Guatemala	0.39 % of GDP
146	Ghana	0.38 % of GDP
147	Ireland	0.34 % of GDP
148	Laos	0.2 % of GDP
149	Mauritius	0.19 % of GDP
150	Equatorial Guinea	0.18 % of GDP
151	Iceland	0.1 % 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 2017, Oman led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 13.73%, while the global range spanned from a minimum of 0.10% to Oman's maximum. The global average expenditure was 2.04%, providing a benchmark for understanding how different countries allocate their GDP to defense.

High Military Expenditures in the Middle East

The Middle East's geopolitical landscape heavily influences its military spending. Oman and Saudi Arabia, with expenditures of 13.73% and 9.85% respectively, are prime examples of how regional tensions drive defense budgets. These countries are situated in a region marked by historical conflicts and ongoing security concerns, motivating high investment in military capabilities. Additionally, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait also appear in the top ten, with expenditures of 5.66% and 4.83%, underscoring a regional pattern of prioritizing defense.

Minimal Military Spending in Stable Regions

Conversely, countries with stable geopolitical environments, such as Iceland and Ireland, exhibit low military expenditures, at 0.10% and 0.34% respectively. Iceland, with no standing army, relies on NATO for defense, while Ireland maintains a policy of neutrality. Other countries like Mauritius and Luxembourg also spend minimally, with values of 0.19% and 0.49%. These nations prioritize economic development and social services over military investments, reflecting their secure and peaceful contexts.

Significant Year-over-Year Changes

While the global average military expenditure decreased by 0.21% in 2017, some countries experienced remarkable shifts. Niger saw the largest increase, with a 2.94% rise, representing a 277.4% increase. This surge likely reflects heightened security needs due to regional instability in the Sahel. Algeria and Russia also increased their spending by 2.07% and 1.91% respectively, driven by regional security dynamics and strategic defense initiatives.

In contrast, Afghanistan experienced a dramatic decrease of 27.20%, a 96.8% reduction, as international military aid diminished. Iraq and Saudi Arabia also reduced expenditures by 5.07% and 2.75%, possibly due to shifts in economic priorities or fiscal constraints.

Economic Context and Military Expenditure

Economic capacity significantly influences military spending as a percentage of GDP. Wealthier nations like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates can sustain high defense budgets due to robust oil revenues. Conversely, countries like Nigeria and Ghana, with expenditures of 0.43% and 0.38%, focus more on economic growth and development challenges, allocating less to the military. This economic disparity highlights how fiscal resources and economic priorities shape defense spending strategies globally.

Overall, the 2017 data on Military Expenditures (% of GDP) reveals significant regional patterns and economic influences. Countries in volatile regions prioritize defense, while those with stable environments or economic constraints allocate less to military spending. Understanding these dynamics provides insight into global defense strategies and fiscal priorities.

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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