Military expenditure (current LCU) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 23.04 billion current LCU in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Afghanistan, 1970–2021
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Afghanistan is 23.04 billion current LCU, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 7.2% on the previous year and up 51.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Afghanistan peaked at 23.04 billion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.28 billion current LCU, in 1970.
Afghanistan ranks 96th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.28 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 1.46 billion current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1974 | 1.56 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1975 | 1.83 billion current LCU | +17.4% |
| 1976 | 2.35 billion current LCU | +28.3% |
| 1977 | 2.67 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 2004 | 5.99 billion current LCU | +123.9% |
| 2005 | 6.07 billion current LCU | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 6.56 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 10.97 billion current LCU | +67.3% |
| 2008 | 12.09 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 12.68 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 13.85 billion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 15.23 billion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2012 | 12.15 billion current LCU | -20.2% |
| 2013 | 12.03 billion current LCU | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 15.36 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 2015 | 12.20 billion current LCU | -20.6% |
| 2016 | 12.61 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 13.02 billion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 14.31 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2019 | 17.59 billion current LCU | +22.9% |
| 2020 | 21.50 billion current LCU | +22.2% |
| 2021 | 23.04 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 23.04 billion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is 216.60 billion current LCU, 11% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 23.04 billion current LCU is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.37 billion current LCU, 32% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +123.9% | 2.67 billion current LCU | 5.99 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.86 billion current LCU | 1.28 billion current LCU | 2.67 billion current LCU | 6 |
| 2000s | 9.06 billion current LCU | 5.99 billion current LCU | 12.68 billion current LCU | 6 |
| 2010s | 13.84 billion current LCU | 12.03 billion current LCU | 17.59 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.27 billion current LCU | 21.50 billion current LCU | 23.04 billion current LCU | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 93 Spain 35.65 billion current LCU compare
- 94 Mozambique 29.88 billion current LCU compare
- 95 Netherlands 25.66 billion current LCU compare
- 97 Singapore 22.79 billion current LCU compare
- 98 Malaysia 21.13 billion current LCU compare
- 99 North Macedonia 20.45 billion current LCU compare
More public sector data for Afghanistan
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Arms imports 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 1.62 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0046 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -71.86 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Afghanistan?
- Military expenditure in Afghanistan was 23.04 billion current LCU in 2021, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 23.04 billion current LCU in 2021.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.28 billion current LCU in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for military expenditure?
- Afghanistan ranks 96th out of 168 countries with data for 2021.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)