Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2021

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

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

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Algeria	7 % of GDP
2	Eritrea	5.1 % of GDP
3	Djibouti	4.9 % of GDP
4	Morocco	4.5 % of GDP
5	Cuba	4.2 % of GDP
6	Russia	4 % of GDP
7	Brunei Darussalam	3.7 % of GDP
8	Mali	3.4 % of GDP
9	Namibia	3.4 % of GDP
10	Congo	3.2 % of GDP
11	Botswana	3 % of GDP
12	Myanmar	3 % of GDP
13	Chad	2.9 % of GDP
14	Tunisia	2.9 % of GDP
15	South Korea	2.64 % of GDP
16	Mauritania	2.5 % of GDP
17	Uganda	2.5 % of GDP
18	Burkina Faso	2.5 % of GDP
19	Cambodia	2.5 % of GDP
20	South Sudan	2.3 % of GDP
21	Burundi	2.1 % of GDP
22	Niger	2.1 % of GDP
23	Australia	2.1 % of GDP
24	Togo	2 % of GDP
25	Central African Republic	1.8 % of GDP
26	Gabon	1.8 % of GDP
27	Eswatini	1.8 % of GDP
28	Kyrgyzstan	1.8 % of GDP
29	Angola	1.7 % of GDP
30	Guinea-Bissau	1.7 % of GDP
31	Honduras	1.7 % of GDP
32	Jamaica	1.7 % of GDP
33	China	1.7 % of GDP
34	Lesotho	1.6 % of GDP
35	Seychelles	1.6 % of GDP
36	Senegal	1.5 % of GDP
37	New Zealand	1.5 % of GDP
38	Belize	1.5 % of GDP
39	Guinea	1.4 % of GDP
40	Fiji	1.4 % of GDP
41	Panama	1.4 % of GDP
42	Equatorial Guinea	1.3 % of GDP
43	Rwanda	1.3 % of GDP
44	Somalia	1.3 % of GDP
45	Tanzania	1.3 % of GDP
46	Zambia	1.3 % of GDP
47	Egypt	1.2 % of GDP
48	Kenya	1.2 % of GDP
49	El Salvador	1.2 % of GDP
50	Uzbekistan	1.2 % of GDP
51	Côte d'Ivoire	1.1 % of GDP
52	Kazakhstan	1.1 % of GDP
53	Tajikistan	1.1 % of GDP
54	Cameroon	1 % of GDP
55	Mozambique	1 % of GDP
56	Japan	1 % of GDP
57	Malaysia	1 % of GDP
58	Malawi	0.9 % of GDP
59	South Africa	0.9 % of GDP
60	Barbados	0.9 % of GDP
61	Bahamas	0.9 % of GDP
62	Turkmenistan	0.9 % of GDP
63	Gambia	0.8 % of GDP
64	Madagascar	0.8 % of GDP
65	Dominican Republic	0.8 % of GDP
66	Trinidad and Tobago	0.8 % of GDP
67	Indonesia	0.8 % of GDP
68	Mongolia	0.8 % of GDP
69	Zimbabwe	0.7 % of GDP
70	Costa Rica	0.7 % of GDP
71	Nicaragua	0.7 % of GDP
72	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0.6 % of GDP
73	Cabo Verde	0.6 % of GDP
74	Nigeria	0.6 % of GDP
75	Benin	0.5 % of GDP
76	Ethiopia	0.5 % of GDP
77	Ghana	0.4 % of GDP
78	Liberia	0.4 % of GDP
79	Libya	NaN % of GDP
80	Sierra Leone	0.5 % of GDP
81	Guatemala	0.5 % of GDP
82	Mauritius	0.2 % of GDP
83	North Korea	NaN % of GDP
84	Oman	11 % of GDP
85	Saudi Arabia	7.8 % of GDP
86	Kuwait	6.3 % of GDP
87	United Arab Emirates	6 % of GDP
88	Azerbaijan	5.4 % of GDP
89	Israel	4.8 % of GDP
90	Jordan	4.7 % of GDP
91	Yemen	4.3 % of GDP
92	Bahrain	4.2 % of GDP
93	Iraq	4.1 % of GDP
94	Ukraine	4 % of GDP
95	Qatar	4 % of GDP
96	Pakistan	4 % of GDP
97	Greece	3.82 % of GDP
98	United States	3.73 % of GDP
99	Singapore	3.2 % of GDP
100	Lebanon	3 % of GDP
101	Colombia	3 % of GDP
102	Croatia	2.79 % of GDP
103	India	2.6 % of GDP
104	Vietnam	2.4 % of GDP
105	United Kingdom	2.32 % of GDP
106	Taiwan	2.3 % of GDP
107	Estonia	2.3 % of GDP
108	Ecuador	2.3 % of GDP
109	Uruguay	2.3 % of GDP
110	Latvia	2.27 % of GDP
111	Finland	2.2 % of GDP
112	Poland	2.2 % of GDP
113	Iran	2.1 % of GDP
114	France	2.04 % of GDP
115	Lithuania	2.03 % of GDP
116	Norway	2 % of GDP
117	Serbia	2 % of GDP
118	Romania	2 % of GDP
119	Chile	2 % of GDP
120	Sri Lanka	2 % of GDP
121	Turkey	1.86 % of GDP
122	Hungary	1.85 % of GDP
123	Georgia	1.8 % of GDP
124	Cyprus	1.75 % of GDP
125	Slovakia	1.73 % of GDP
126	Montenegro	1.72 % of GDP
127	Bulgaria	1.6 % of GDP
128	Portugal	1.59 % of GDP
129	North Macedonia	1.57 % of GDP
130	Germany	1.56 % of GDP
131	Netherlands	1.49 % of GDP
132	Canada	1.42 % of GDP
133	Thailand	1.4 % of GDP
134	Denmark	1.4 % of GDP
135	Italy	1.39 % of GDP
136	Czech Republic	1.34 % of GDP
137	Albania	1.3 % of GDP
138	Nepal	1.3 % of GDP
139	Peru	1.2 % of GDP
140	Afghanistan	1.2 % of GDP
141	Bangladesh	1.2 % of GDP
142	Suriname	1.1 % of GDP
143	Paraguay	1 % of GDP
144	Switzerland	0.8 % of GDP
145	Syrian Arab Republic	NaN % of GDP
146	Bolivia	1.3 % of GDP
147	Brazil	1.3 % of GDP
148	Timor-Leste	1.2 % of GDP
149	Belarus	1.2 % of GDP
150	Guyana	1.2 % of GDP
151	Spain	1.17 % of GDP
152	Slovenia	1.1 % of GDP
153	Sweden	1.1 % of GDP
154	Belgium	1.07 % of GDP
155	Philippines	1 % of GDP
156	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0.9 % of GDP
157	Austria	0.8 % of GDP
158	Argentina	0.8 % of GDP
159	Mexico	0.7 % of GDP
160	Malta	0.6 % of GDP
161	Luxembourg	0.57 % of GDP
162	Papua New Guinea	0.4 % of GDP
163	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % of GDP
164	Venezuela	0.4 % of GDP
165	Ireland	0.27 % of GDP
166	Laos	0.2 % of GDP
167	Maldives	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 2021, Oman led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 11%, while the global range spanned from 0.20% to 11.00%. The global average for military spending as a percentage of GDP was 1.98%, providing a benchmark for understanding national defense priorities worldwide.

High Military Expenditure: Economic and Strategic Drivers

The countries with the highest military expenditures as a percentage of GDP often reflect strategic and geopolitical concerns. Oman, at the top with 11%, and Saudi Arabia at 7.8% are part of the Middle East, a region fraught with geopolitical tensions and rich in oil resources, necessitating robust defense mechanisms. Algeria and Kuwait follow with 7% and 6.3% respectively, reflecting similar regional security concerns and economic capabilities to allocate substantial portions of their GDP to defense.

These countries often allocate higher percentages of GDP to military spending due to perceived threats, historical conflicts, or the need to maintain a competitive edge in regional power dynamics. The economic capacity to sustain such spending levels is typically supported by substantial revenue from natural resources, particularly oil, which provides the fiscal space necessary for high defense budgets.

Low Military Expenditure: Economic Constraints and Policy Choices

On the opposite end of the spectrum, countries like Mauritius and Laos reported the lowest military expenditures, each at 0.20% of GDP. This reflects a combination of economic constraints and strategic policy choices. For instance, Ireland, with a military expenditure of 0.27%, prioritizes neutrality and diplomatic engagement over military buildup. Similarly, Ghana and Liberia, each at 0.4%, may focus their limited fiscal resources on development and infrastructure.

These countries often face economic limitations that necessitate prioritizing social and economic development over military enhancements. Additionally, the absence of immediate security threats or alliances that provide security assurances can influence these lower expenditures.

Significant Year-over-Year Changes: Causes Behind the Fluctuations

The year-over-year changes in military expenditures reveal significant strategic shifts in several countries. Oman experienced the largest increase, rising by 2.20%, marking a 25.0% growth. This could be attributed to escalating regional tensions or modernization of military capabilities. Similarly, Greece saw a surge of 1.54% (a 67.5% increase), likely driven by regional disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Conversely, Uzbekistan registered the most substantial decrease, dropping by 2.80% or -70.0%Iran also saw a significant reduction of 1.70% (-44.7%), possibly reflecting economic sanctions' impact and a strategic pivot towards diplomacy.

Implications of Military Expenditures on Economic Health

The allocation of GDP towards military expenditures has profound implications for a country's economic health and development priorities. High military spending can strain national budgets, limiting investments in critical sectors like education and healthcare. For example, Saudi Arabia and Algeria must balance defense spending with social welfare needs, especially in the face of fluctuating oil revenues.

On the other hand, countries with lower military expenditures, such as Laos and Ghana, may have more fiscal flexibility to invest in infrastructure and social programs, potentially fostering long-term economic growth. However, these nations must also ensure that their defense capabilities are sufficient to maintain sovereignty and security.

Overall, the 2021 data on Military Expenditures (% of GDP) underscores the diverse strategic priorities and economic realities faced by countries worldwide. While some nations prioritize defense due to regional threats or geopolitical ambitions, others focus on economic development and social services, reflecting a complex interplay between security needs and economic strategies.

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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