Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2019

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

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

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Saudi Arabia	8.78 % of GDP
2	Oman	8.17 % of GDP
3	United Arab Emirates	5.7 % of GDP
4	Algeria	5.27 % of GDP
5	Israel	5.1 % of GDP
6	Kuwait	5.06 % of GDP
7	Lebanon	4.99 % of GDP
8	Jordan	4.68 % of GDP
9	Pakistan	4.03 % of GDP
10	Uzbekistan	4 % of GDP
11	Yemen	3.98 % of GDP
12	Russia	3.93 % of GDP
13	Ukraine	3.78 % of GDP
14	Azerbaijan	3.77 % of GDP
15	Bahrain	3.6 % of GDP
16	Colombia	3.5 % of GDP
17	United States	3.42 % of GDP
18	Namibia	3.35 % of GDP
19	Singapore	3.3 % of GDP
20	Bulgaria	3.25 % of GDP
21	Morocco	3.1 % of GDP
22	Mauritania	3.02 % of GDP
23	Gambia	3 % of GDP
24	Myanmar	2.93 % of GDP
25	Cuba	2.87 % of GDP
26	Mali	2.87 % of GDP
27	Botswana	2.78 % of GDP
28	Iraq	2.73 % of GDP
29	Iran	2.67 % of GDP
30	South Korea	2.62 % of GDP
31	Congo	2.55 % of GDP
32	Guinea	2.47 % of GDP
33	Niger	2.45 % of GDP
34	India	2.42 % of GDP
35	Ecuador	2.38 % of GDP
36	Brunei Darussalam	2.37 % of GDP
37	Georgia	2.3 % of GDP
38	Vietnam	2.3 % of GDP
39	Greece	2.28 % of GDP
40	Cambodia	2.21 % of GDP
41	Zimbabwe	2.17 % of GDP
42	Taiwan	2.16 % of GDP
43	Estonia	2.14 % of GDP
44	United Kingdom	2.14 % of GDP
45	Chad	2.13 % of GDP
46	Tunisia	2.09 % of GDP
47	Burkina Faso	2.06 % of GDP
48	Romania	2.04 % of GDP
49	Lithuania	2.03 % of GDP
50	Latvia	2.01 % of GDP
51	Poland	2 % of GDP
52	Togo	1.97 % of GDP
53	Uruguay	1.95 % of GDP
54	Australia	1.89 % of GDP
55	Sri Lanka	1.89 % of GDP
56	Chile	1.89 % of GDP
57	Turkey	1.89 % of GDP
58	Burundi	1.88 % of GDP
59	China	1.87 % of GDP
60	France	1.84 % of GDP
61	Lesotho	1.81 % of GDP
62	Norway	1.8 % of GDP
63	Angola	1.78 % of GDP
64	Slovakia	1.74 % of GDP
65	Honduras	1.71 % of GDP
66	Guyana	1.69 % of GDP
67	Croatia	1.68 % of GDP
68	Montenegro	1.66 % of GDP
69	Guinea-Bissau	1.64 % of GDP
70	Cyprus	1.57 % of GDP
71	Kyrgyzstan	1.57 % of GDP
72	Gabon	1.53 % of GDP
73	Portugal	1.52 % of GDP
74	Bolivia	1.5 % of GDP
75	Eswatini	1.5 % of GDP
76	Brazil	1.48 % of GDP
77	Nepal	1.44 % of GDP
78	Seychelles	1.44 % of GDP
79	Uganda	1.43 % of GDP
80	Central African Republic	1.41 % of GDP
81	Serbia	1.39 % of GDP
82	Germany	1.38 % of GDP
83	Senegal	1.38 % of GDP
84	Bangladesh	1.37 % of GDP
85	Côte d'Ivoire	1.36 % of GDP
86	Netherlands	1.36 % of GDP
87	Jamaica	1.35 % of GDP
88	South Sudan	1.33 % of GDP
89	Thailand	1.33 % of GDP
90	Denmark	1.32 % of GDP
91	Canada	1.31 % of GDP
92	Kenya	1.3 % of GDP
93	Finland	1.29 % of GDP
94	Belarus	1.27 % of GDP
95	Albania	1.26 % of GDP
96	Belize	1.26 % of GDP
97	Cameroon	1.25 % of GDP
98	Egypt	1.25 % of GDP
99	Zambia	1.25 % of GDP
100	Rwanda	1.23 % of GDP
101	Italy	1.22 % of GDP
102	Tajikistan	1.22 % of GDP
103	Hungary	1.21 % of GDP
104	Tanzania	1.21 % of GDP
105	Czech Republic	1.19 % of GDP
106	North Macedonia	1.19 % of GDP
107	Peru	1.19 % of GDP
108	New Zealand	1.16 % of GDP
109	Philippines	1.13 % of GDP
110	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1.11 % of GDP
111	Slovenia	1.04 % of GDP
112	Sweden	1.04 % of GDP
113	El Salvador	1.03 % of GDP
114	Afghanistan	0.99 % of GDP
115	Mozambique	0.99 % of GDP
116	Malaysia	0.98 % of GDP
117	South Africa	0.98 % of GDP
118	Kazakhstan	0.95 % of GDP
119	Belgium	0.93 % of GDP
120	Japan	0.93 % of GDP
121	Paraguay	0.93 % of GDP
122	Fiji	0.92 % of GDP
123	Spain	0.92 % of GDP
124	Argentina	0.86 % of GDP
125	Benin	0.86 % of GDP
126	Malawi	0.85 % of GDP
127	Sierra Leone	0.8 % of GDP
128	Trinidad and Tobago	0.78 % of GDP
129	Liberia	0.77 % of GDP
130	Dominican Republic	0.74 % of GDP
131	Indonesia	0.72 % of GDP
132	Mongolia	0.68 % of GDP
133	Switzerland	0.68 % of GDP
134	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0.67 % of GDP
135	Ethiopia	0.64 % of GDP
136	Nicaragua	0.61 % of GDP
137	Timor-Leste	0.61 % of GDP
138	Madagascar	0.6 % of GDP
139	Austria	0.58 % of GDP
140	Luxembourg	0.56 % of GDP
141	Cabo Verde	0.55 % of GDP
142	Mexico	0.54 % of GDP
143	Nigeria	0.51 % of GDP
144	Malta	0.49 % of GDP
145	Venezuela	0.49 % of GDP
146	Ghana	0.41 % of GDP
147	Guatemala	0.35 % of GDP
148	Republic of Moldova	0.35 % of GDP
149	Ireland	0.33 % of GDP
150	Iceland	0.3 % of GDP
151	Papua New Guinea	0.27 % of GDP
152	Laos	0.19 % of GDP
153	Equatorial Guinea	0.18 % of GDP
154	Mauritius	0.16 % 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 2019, Saudi Arabia led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP), spending a significant 8.78% of its GDP on defense. Globally, military expenditures as a percentage of GDP ranged from 0.16% to 8.78% across 154 countries. The average expenditure was 1.84%, while the median stood at 1.44%, highlighting a diverse range in defense spending priorities worldwide.

Middle Eastern Dominance in Military Spending

The Middle East remains a hotspot for high military expenditure relative to GDP, with countries such as Saudi Arabia (8.78%), Oman (8.17%), and the United Arab Emirates (5.7%) leading the pack. This trend is largely driven by regional security concerns and geopolitical tensions, which necessitate substantial investment in military capabilities. Additionally, the wealth generated from oil resources in these nations supports their ability to allocate significant portions of their GDP to defense without severely impacting other sectors.

In contrast, countries with lower military expenditures as a percentage of GDP, such as Mauritius (0.16%) and Equatorial Guinea (0.18%), often prioritize economic development and social welfare over defense spending. These nations typically face fewer external threats, allowing them to allocate resources elsewhere.

Economic and Policy Drivers of Military Expenditures

Several factors contribute to the variance in military expenditures across different countries. Economic capacity plays a crucial role, as wealthier nations can afford higher defense budgets. For instance, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait (5.06%) leverage their substantial oil revenues to maintain robust military forces.

Policy decisions also significantly influence military spending. Israel (5.1%) maintains high defense expenditures due to its strategic security policies and ongoing regional conflicts. Similarly, Pakistan (4.03%) allocates a considerable portion of its GDP to military spending, driven by longstanding tensions with neighboring India.

Significant Year-over-Year Changes in Military Spending

Analyzing year-over-year changes reveals insights into shifting national priorities. Lebanon saw the most substantial increase, with a 71.5% rise in military spending to reach 4.99% of GDP. This surge can be attributed to heightened security challenges and internal instability. Bulgaria experienced a remarkable 112.4% increase, reflecting its efforts to modernize military capabilities and meet NATO defense spending targets.

Conversely, South Sudan recorded the largest decrease, with a dramatic 87.8% reduction in military expenditures, lowering its spending to a more sustainable level. Oman also reduced its military budget by 40.5%, possibly in response to economic pressures from fluctuating oil prices.

Global Trends and Implications

The global landscape of military expenditures as a percentage of GDP in 2019 underscores the varied approaches nations take in balancing defense needs with economic realities. While some countries prioritize military strength due to geopolitical pressures, others choose to focus on economic and social investments.

Understanding these expenditures provides valuable context for analyzing international relations and security dynamics. As nations reassess their defense budgets in response to changing global conditions, fluctuations in military spending will continue to reflect broader economic and geopolitical shifts.

In conclusion, the data on Military Expenditures (% of GDP) in 2019 highlights the complex interplay between economic capacity, security needs, and policy decisions across the globe. This metric remains a crucial indicator of national priorities and strategic orientations in an ever-evolving international landscape.

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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