Nigeria vs United States: Military expenditure

Nigeria
1.68 trillion current LCU
in 2024
United States
997.31 billion current LCU
in 2024
Nigeria rank
28th
United States rank
29th

Military expenditure over time

  • Nigeria
  • United States
0500.0B1.0T1.5T2.0T196019922024

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 1.68 trillion current LCU against 997.31 billion current LCU in United States, a difference of 681.09 billion current LCU.

That makes Nigeria's figure about 1.7 times United States's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 65 shared years of data; in 1960 it was United States ahead.

Nigeria ranks 28th and United States ranks 29th of 167 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, Nigeria averaged higher in 1 and United States in 6.

Head to head by decade

Decade Nigeria United States Difference Ahead
1960s 114.66 million current LCU 62.86 billion current LCU 62.74 billion current LCU United States
1970s 1.24 billion current LCU 94.48 billion current LCU 93.25 billion current LCU United States
1980s 1.14 billion current LCU 251.38 billion current LCU 250.24 billion current LCU United States
1990s 13.89 billion current LCU 304.04 billion current LCU 290.15 billion current LCU United States
2000s 109.62 billion current LCU 500.77 billion current LCU 391.15 billion current LCU United States
2010s 444.69 billion current LCU 687.98 billion current LCU 243.29 billion current LCU United States
2020s 1.55 trillion current LCU 871.73 billion current LCU 673.78 billion current LCU Nigeria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military expenditure, Nigeria or United States?
Nigeria, at 1.68 trillion current LCU against 997.31 billion current LCU in United States as of 2024.
What is the difference in military expenditure between Nigeria and United States?
681.09 billion current LCU, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and United States?
65 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2024.
How do Nigeria and United States rank globally for military expenditure?
Nigeria ranks 28th and United States ranks 29th of 167 countries.
Where does this data come from?
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs United States: Military expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/military-expenditure-current-lcu/nigeria/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (current LCU)
Unit
current LCU
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
167 places, 8,248 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)