Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2018

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

152 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	5.81 % of GDP
6	Israel	5.62 % of GDP
7	United Arab Emirates	4.86 % of GDP
8	Kuwait	4.83 % of GDP
9	Jordan	4.8 % of GDP
10	Bahrain	4.59 % of GDP
11	Namibia	4.44 % of GDP
12	Russia	4.24 % of GDP
13	Myanmar	4.08 % of GDP
14	Niger	4 % of GDP
15	Yemen	3.97 % of GDP
16	Azerbaijan	3.64 % of GDP
17	Iraq	3.63 % of GDP
18	Pakistan	3.56 % of GDP
19	Colombia	3.5 % of GDP
20	Ukraine	3.5 % of GDP
21	Botswana	3.37 % of GDP
22	United States	3.29 % of GDP
23	Morocco	3.2 % of GDP
24	Kyrgyzstan	3.15 % of GDP
25	Singapore	3.12 % of GDP
26	Cuba	3.08 % of GDP
27	Mauritania	2.97 % of GDP
28	Angola	2.95 % of GDP
29	Lebanon	2.91 % of GDP
30	Brunei Darussalam	2.87 % of GDP
31	Chad	2.79 % of GDP
32	South Korea	2.7 % of GDP
33	Iran	2.69 % of GDP
34	Mali	2.63 % of GDP
35	Timor-Leste	2.56 % of GDP
36	Guinea	2.49 % of GDP
37	India	2.47 % of GDP
38	Vietnam	2.44 % of GDP
39	Greece	2.4 % of GDP
40	Georgia	2.23 % of GDP
41	Burundi	2.21 % of GDP
42	United Kingdom	2.2 % of GDP
43	Zimbabwe	2.2 % of GDP
44	Estonia	2.17 % of GDP
45	Sri Lanka	2.14 % of GDP
46	Tunisia	2.03 % of GDP
47	Australia	2 % of GDP
48	China	2 % of GDP
49	Egypt	2 % of GDP
50	Lithuania	2 % of GDP
51	Poland	1.99 % of GDP
52	Senegal	1.89 % of GDP
53	Chile	1.87 % of GDP
54	Togo	1.86 % of GDP
55	Cambodia	1.85 % of GDP
56	Lesotho	1.85 % of GDP
57	Uruguay	1.85 % of GDP
58	Eswatini	1.81 % of GDP
59	France	1.79 % of GDP
60	Cyprus	1.78 % of GDP
61	Guinea-Bissau	1.76 % of GDP
62	Turkey	1.73 % of GDP
63	Ecuador	1.7 % of GDP
64	Latvia	1.7 % of GDP
65	Montenegro	1.7 % of GDP
66	Norway	1.61 % of GDP
67	Cameroon	1.6 % of GDP
68	Honduras	1.59 % of GDP
69	Uganda	1.57 % of GDP
70	Bulgaria	1.53 % of GDP
71	Zambia	1.53 % of GDP
72	Nepal	1.52 % of GDP
73	Bolivia	1.5 % of GDP
74	Thailand	1.5 % of GDP
75	Gambia	1.48 % of GDP
76	Bangladesh	1.44 % of GDP
77	Gabon	1.43 % of GDP
78	Guyana	1.42 % of GDP
79	Romania	1.42 % of GDP
80	Kenya	1.4 % of GDP
81	Portugal	1.36 % of GDP
82	Netherlands	1.35 % of GDP
83	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1.34 % of GDP
84	Serbia	1.34 % of GDP
85	Brazil	1.32 % of GDP
86	Canada	1.29 % of GDP
87	Seychelles	1.29 % of GDP
88	Philippines	1.28 % of GDP
89	Croatia	1.27 % of GDP
90	Paraguay	1.25 % of GDP
91	Germany	1.24 % of GDP
92	Finland	1.23 % of GDP
93	Burkina Faso	1.23 % of GDP
94	Albania	1.22 % of GDP
95	Denmark	1.21 % of GDP
96	Rwanda	1.21 % of GDP
97	Tajikistan	1.19 % of GDP
98	Côte d'Ivoire	1.18 % of GDP
99	Belize	1.17 % of GDP
100	Slovakia	1.16 % of GDP
101	Benin	1.14 % of GDP
102	Tanzania	1.14 % of GDP
103	Italy	1.12 % of GDP
104	Trinidad and Tobago	1.12 % of GDP
105	Malaysia	1.11 % of GDP
106	New Zealand	1.1 % of GDP
107	South Africa	1.07 % of GDP
108	Mozambique	1.03 % of GDP
109	Hungary	1.01 % of GDP
110	Sweden	1 % of GDP
111	Venezuela	1 % of GDP
112	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0.99 % of GDP
113	Czech Republic	0.98 % of GDP
114	Fiji	0.98 % of GDP
115	Slovenia	0.98 % of GDP
116	Argentina	0.95 % of GDP
117	Belgium	0.93 % of GDP
118	Belarus	0.93 % of GDP
119	Japan	0.93 % of GDP
120	Spain	0.93 % of GDP
121	North Macedonia	0.9 % of GDP
122	Peru	0.9 % of GDP
123	Afghanistan	0.89 % of GDP
124	El Salvador	0.87 % of GDP
125	Indonesia	0.84 % of GDP
126	Jamaica	0.82 % of GDP
127	Kazakhstan	0.82 % of GDP
128	Sierra Leone	0.81 % of GDP
129	Mongolia	0.72 % of GDP
130	Switzerland	0.71 % of GDP
131	Ethiopia	0.67 % of GDP
132	Papua New Guinea	0.66 % of GDP
133	Dominican Republic	0.64 % of GDP
134	Cabo Verde	0.63 % of GDP
135	Liberia	0.62 % of GDP
136	Malawi	0.61 % of GDP
137	Nicaragua	0.61 % of GDP
138	Austria	0.58 % of GDP
139	Mexico	0.58 % of GDP
140	Luxembourg	0.55 % of GDP
141	Madagascar	0.53 % of GDP
142	Malta	0.53 % of GDP
143	Nigeria	0.43 % of GDP
144	Ghana	0.4 % of GDP
145	Guatemala	0.37 % of GDP
146	Republic of Moldova	0.37 % 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
152	Somalia	0 % 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 2018, Oman led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 13.73%, while the global range spanned from 0.00% to 13.73%. The worldwide average for military spending as a percentage of GDP stood at 1.98%, providing a clear picture of how countries prioritize defense spending relative to their economies.

High Expenditure Nations: Strategic and Geopolitical Considerations

The countries with the highest military expenditures as a percentage of GDP often share strategic and geopolitical motivations. Oman and Saudi Arabia, with expenditures of 13.73% and 9.85% respectively, are prime examples. These nations are located in a region characterized by geopolitical tensions and have significant economic interests tied to oil, requiring robust defense capabilities to safeguard their resources and maintain regional influence.

Similarly, Israel maintains a high military expenditure at 5.62% of GDP due to its unique security situation and ongoing regional conflicts. Jordan and Bahrain, spending 4.8% and 4.59% respectively, also reflect similar regional security concerns. The emphasis on military spending in these countries often correlates with external threats and the need to project power or deter aggression.

Low Expenditure Nations: Economic and Political Stability

On the other end of the spectrum, countries like Somalia and Iceland have minimal military expenditures, at 0.00% and 0.1% of GDP respectively. Iceland benefits from political stability and a strategic alliance with NATO, which diminishes the need for a substantial national defense budget. In contrast, Somalia faces internal challenges that limit its ability to allocate resources to defense, reflecting its ongoing struggles with governance and economic development.

Other countries with low military spending, such as Ireland (0.34%) and Laos (0.2%), often prioritize economic development and social services over defense, leveraging their geopolitical stability and diplomatic relations to maintain security.

Significant Year-Over-Year Changes: Economic and Policy Shifts

The year-over-year analysis reveals significant fluctuations in military expenditures. Notably, Lithuania increased its military spending by 34.2%, reaching a new level of strategic investment in response to regional security concerns in Eastern Europe. Similarly, South Korea and the United Kingdom increased their expenditures by 17.4% and 19.6% respectively, reflecting shifts in defense policies and international commitments.

Conversely, Lebanon experienced the most substantial decrease, reducing its expenditure by 38.9%. This reduction may be attributed to economic pressures and political instability impacting budget allocations. Russia and the United Arab Emirates also saw significant decreases of 21.5% and 14.1% respectively, possibly due to economic adjustments and strategic recalibrations.

Global Implications and Strategic Outlook

The data on military expenditures as a percentage of GDP in 2018 highlights the varied strategic priorities across nations. High military spending often correlates with geopolitical tensions, while lower expenditures tend to align with economic stability and strategic alliances. As countries navigate complex security landscapes, these expenditures reflect broader policy decisions and economic conditions.

Understanding these patterns provides insight into global security dynamics and economic strategies. As nations reassess their defense priorities, these expenditures will continue to serve as a critical indicator of global military and economic trends.

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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