Military Expenditures (% of GDP) 2022

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

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

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Eritrea	10 % of GDP
2	Algeria	5.6 % of GDP
3	Somalia	5.6 % of GDP
4	Morocco	4.5 % of GDP
5	Djibouti	3.5 % of GDP
6	Mali	3.5 % of GDP
7	Botswana	3 % of GDP
8	Chad	2.5 % of GDP
9	Congo	2.5 % of GDP
10	Mauritania	2.5 % of GDP
11	Burundi	2 % of GDP
12	South Sudan	2 % of GDP
13	Central African Republic	1.8 % of GDP
14	Niger	1.8 % of GDP
15	Guinea-Bissau	1.8 % of GDP
16	Togo	1.8 % of GDP
17	Gabon	1.7 % of GDP
18	Senegal	1.7 % of GDP
19	Guinea	1.5 % of GDP
20	Lesotho	1.5 % of GDP
21	Seychelles	1.5 % of GDP
22	Angola	1.4 % of GDP
23	Rwanda	1.4 % of GDP
24	Egypt	1.3 % of GDP
25	Equatorial Guinea	1.3 % of GDP
26	Kenya	1.2 % of GDP
27	Mozambique	1.2 % of GDP
28	Côte d'Ivoire	1.1 % of GDP
29	Cameroon	1 % of GDP
30	Malawi	0.9 % of GDP
31	Gambia	0.8 % of GDP
32	South Africa	0.8 % of GDP
33	Benin	0.7 % of GDP
34	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0.7 % of GDP
35	Liberia	0.7 % of GDP
36	Madagascar	0.7 % of GDP
37	Nigeria	0.7 % of GDP
38	Cabo Verde	0.5 % of GDP
39	Ethiopia	0.5 % of GDP
40	Ghana	0.5 % of GDP
41	Libya	NaN % of GDP
42	Sierra Leone	0.3 % of GDP
43	Mauritius	0.2 % of GDP
44	Sao Tome and Principe	NaN % of GDP
45	Cuba	4.2 % of GDP
46	Russia	4 % of GDP
47	Myanmar	3.4 % of GDP
48	Brunei Darussalam	3.1 % of GDP
49	Tunisia	3 % of GDP
50	Namibia	3 % of GDP
51	Uzbekistan	2.8 % of GDP
52	Zimbabwe	2.6 % of GDP
53	South Korea	2.6 % of GDP
54	Uganda	2.5 % of GDP
55	Cambodia	2.5 % of GDP
56	Burkina Faso	2.4 % of GDP
57	Tonga	2.1 % of GDP
58	Australia	2 % of GDP
59	Turkmenistan	1.9 % of GDP
60	Eswatini	1.7 % of GDP
61	Kyrgyzstan	1.7 % of GDP
62	Honduras	1.6 % of GDP
63	Fiji	1.5 % of GDP
64	China	1.5 % of GDP
65	New Zealand	1.4 % of GDP
66	Jamaica	1.4 % of GDP
67	Zambia	1.3 % of GDP
68	Belize	1.2 % of GDP
69	Tanzania	1.1 % of GDP
70	Antigua and Barbuda	NaN % of GDP
71	El Salvador	1.2 % of GDP
72	Panama	1.2 % of GDP
73	Tajikistan	1.2 % of GDP
74	Trinidad and Tobago	1 % of GDP
75	Kazakhstan	1 % of GDP
76	Japan	1 % of GDP
77	Barbados	0.8 % of GDP
78	Bahamas	0.8 % of GDP
79	Indonesia	0.8 % of GDP
80	Costa Rica	0.7 % of GDP
81	Dominican Republic	0.7 % of GDP
82	Guatemala	0.4 % of GDP
83	Haiti	NaN % of GDP
84	Nicaragua	0.6 % of GDP
85	North Korea	NaN % of GDP
86	Oman	8 % of GDP
87	Kuwait	6.8 % of GDP
88	Syrian Arab Republic	6.5 % of GDP
89	Saudi Arabia	6 % of GDP
90	United Arab Emirates	5.6 % of GDP
91	Azerbaijan	5.2 % of GDP
92	Venezuela	5.2 % of GDP
93	Israel	5 % of GDP
94	Jordan	5 % of GDP
95	Ukraine	4 % of GDP
96	Qatar	4 % of GDP
97	Pakistan	4 % of GDP
98	Greece	3.8 % of GDP
99	Iraq	3.7 % of GDP
100	Bahrain	3.6 % of GDP
101	United States	3.5 % of GDP
102	Afghanistan	3.3 % of GDP
103	Singapore	3.2 % of GDP
104	Lebanon	3.2 % of GDP
105	Colombia	3 % of GDP
106	Lithuania	2.5 % of GDP
107	Vietnam	2.4 % of GDP
108	Poland	2.4 % of GDP
109	Estonia	2.35 % of GDP
110	Iran	2.3 % of GDP
111	Uruguay	2.3 % of GDP
112	Taiwan	2.2 % of GDP
113	India	2.2 % of GDP
114	Latvia	2.1 % of GDP
115	United Kingdom	2.1 % of GDP
116	Cyprus	2 % of GDP
117	Finland	2 % of GDP
118	Croatia	2 % of GDP
119	Slovakia	2 % of GDP
120	Romania	2 % of GDP
121	Chile	2 % of GDP
122	Ecuador	2 % of GDP
123	France	1.9 % of GDP
124	Serbia	1.9 % of GDP
125	Sri Lanka	1.9 % of GDP
126	Timor-Leste	1.8 % of GDP
127	Montenegro	1.8 % of GDP
128	North Macedonia	1.8 % of GDP
129	Bulgaria	1.7 % of GDP
130	Hungary	1.7 % of GDP
131	Netherlands	1.7 % of GDP
132	Georgia	1.7 % of GDP
133	Albania	1.6 % of GDP
134	Norway	1.6 % of GDP
135	Italy	1.55 % of GDP
136	Germany	1.5 % of GDP
137	Portugal	1.5 % of GDP
138	Denmark	1.4 % of GDP
139	Canada	1.4 % of GDP
140	Bolivia	1.4 % of GDP
141	Thailand	1.3 % of GDP
142	Czech Republic	1.3 % of GDP
143	Sweden	1.3 % of GDP
144	Brazil	1.3 % of GDP
145	Nepal	1.3 % of GDP
146	Belgium	1.2 % of GDP
147	Belarus	1.2 % of GDP
148	Slovenia	1.2 % of GDP
149	Turkey	1.2 % of GDP
150	Suriname	1.2 % of GDP
151	Philippines	1.1 % of GDP
152	Peru	1.1 % of GDP
153	Bangladesh	1.1 % of GDP
154	Malaysia	1 % of GDP
155	Spain	1 % of GDP
156	Guyana	1 % of GDP
157	Paraguay	1 % of GDP
158	Austria	0.9 % of GDP
159	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0.9 % of GDP
160	Mongolia	0.8 % of GDP
161	Mexico	0.8 % of GDP
162	Switzerland	0.7 % of GDP
163	Yemen	NaN % of GDP
164	Argentina	0.8 % of GDP
165	Luxembourg	0.6 % of GDP
166	Malta	0.5 % of GDP
167	Papua New Guinea	0.4 % of GDP
168	Republic of Moldova	0.4 % of GDP
169	Ireland	0.3 % of GDP
170	Laos	0.2 % of GDP
171	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 2022, Eritrea led the world in Military Expenditures (% of GDP) with a staggering 10%. The global range for this metric varied from a minimum of 0.20% to a maximum of 10%, covering 164 countries. The average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP globally was 2.04%, while the median stood at 1.70%.

Economic and Geopolitical Influences on High Military Expenditures

Countries with substantial military expenditures as a percentage of their GDP, such as Eritrea (10%), Oman (8%), and the Kuwait (6.8%), often face unique geopolitical challenges or economic conditions that necessitate such spending. For instance, Eritrea’s high expenditure can be attributed to its history of conflict and ongoing tensions in the Horn of Africa. Similarly, Oman and Kuwait, located in a geopolitically volatile region, allocate significant resources to defense to ensure national security amidst regional instability. These expenditures frequently reflect strategic priorities rather than economic capacity, as seen in countries like the Syrian Arab Republic (6.5%) and Saudi Arabia (6%), where regional conflicts and the need to maintain military readiness are paramount.

Countries with Minimal Military Expenditures

On the opposite end, nations such as Laos and Mauritius report some of the lowest military expenditures at 0.2% of GDP. These countries often prioritize economic development over military spending, leveraging their geopolitical stability and diplomatic strategies to ensure security. For example, Ireland and Sierra Leone, with expenditures of 0.3%, focus on economic growth and social welfare, relying on international alliances and peacekeeping contributions to maintain security.

Drivers of Year-over-Year Changes in Military Expenditures

The year-over-year changes in military expenditures reveal significant shifts in defense priorities. Eritrea experienced a dramatic increase of 4.90 percentage points, representing a 96.1% rise, likely due to heightened regional tensions. Venezuela, with a 1200% increase, reflects economic instability and political turmoil driving up defense spending as a government priority. Similarly, Somalia saw a 330.8% increase, indicative of internal security challenges necessitating increased military funding.

Conversely, countries like Oman and Saudi Arabia reduced their military spending by 3.00 and 1.80 percentage points, respectively. These decreases may be attributed to strategic realignments or fiscal constraints, as these nations balance defense needs with economic pressures. Algeria and Djibouti also experienced notable reductions, potentially reflecting shifts in regional security dynamics or economic policy adjustments.

Global Trends and Implications

The global average expenditure of 2.04% suggests a broad spectrum of defense priorities, influenced by economic capacity, geopolitical tensions, and national security strategies. Countries with high military expenditures often face immediate security threats or regional instability, while those with lower percentages may benefit from stable geopolitical environments or focus on economic development. The data indicates that shifts in military spending can be rapid and substantial, reflecting changes in national policy or external pressures. Understanding these trends is crucial for analyzing global security dynamics and economic 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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