France vs United Kingdom: Military expenditure

France
64.67 billion current USD
in 2024
United Kingdom
81.76 billion current USD
in 2024
France rank
9th
United Kingdom rank
6th

Military expenditure over time

  • France
  • United Kingdom
020.0B40.0B60.0B80.0B196019922024

How they compare

United Kingdom currently reports 81.76 billion current USD against 64.67 billion current USD in France, a difference of 17.09 billion current USD.

That makes United Kingdom's figure about 1.3 times France's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 65 shared years of data; in 1960 it was United Kingdom ahead.

France ranks 9th and United Kingdom ranks 6th of 167 countries.

United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade France United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1960s 4.24 billion current USD 6.05 billion current USD 1.81 billion current USD United Kingdom
1970s 10.25 billion current USD 11.73 billion current USD 1.48 billion current USD United Kingdom
1980s 22.70 billion current USD 30.21 billion current USD 7.51 billion current USD United Kingdom
1990s 36.27 billion current USD 41.16 billion current USD 4.89 billion current USD United Kingdom
2000s 42.28 billion current USD 57.19 billion current USD 14.92 billion current USD United Kingdom
2010s 50.23 billion current USD 60.46 billion current USD 10.24 billion current USD United Kingdom
2020s 58.20 billion current USD 68.92 billion current USD 10.72 billion current USD United Kingdom

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military expenditure, France or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom, at 81.76 billion current USD against 64.67 billion current USD in France as of 2024.
What is the difference in military expenditure between France and United Kingdom?
17.09 billion current USD, with United Kingdom ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for France and United Kingdom?
65 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2024.
How do France and United Kingdom rank globally for military expenditure?
France ranks 9th and United Kingdom ranks 6th of 167 countries.
Where does this data come from?
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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France vs United Kingdom: Military expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/military-expenditure-current-usd/france/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (current USD)
Unit
current USD
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
211 places, 10,601 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)