Military expenditure in Australia
Australia: Military expenditure was 51.41 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
51.41 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
84th
of 168 countries
All-time high
51.41 billion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
410.50 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Australia, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Australia stood at 51.41 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and up 79.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Australia peaked at 51.41 billion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 410.50 million current LCU, in 1960.
That places Australia 84th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Australia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 410.50 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 420.50 million current LCU | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 437.00 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 494.00 million current LCU | +13.0% |
| 1964 | 585.50 million current LCU | +18.5% |
| 1965 | 703.00 million current LCU | +20.1% |
| 1966 | 881.00 million current LCU | +25.3% |
| 1967 | 1.07 billion current LCU | +21.4% |
| 1968 | 1.18 billion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1969 | 1.17 billion current LCU | -0.5% |
| 1970 | 1.14 billion current LCU | -2.9% |
| 1971 | 1.18 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 1.25 billion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 1.31 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 1.48 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1975 | 1.73 billion current LCU | +16.9% |
| 1976 | 2.00 billion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 1977 | 2.25 billion current LCU | +12.9% |
| 1978 | 2.46 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 2.77 billion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 3.21 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 1981 | 3.76 billion current LCU | +17.1% |
| 1982 | 4.40 billion current LCU | +16.9% |
| 1983 | 5.01 billion current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1984 | 5.61 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 6.28 billion current LCU | +11.9% |
| 1986 | 6.89 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 7.22 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 7.47 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 7.97 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 8.59 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 9.02 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 9.37 billion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 9.90 billion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 10.20 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 10.34 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 10.48 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 10.69 billion current LCU | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 11.31 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 12.04 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 12.55 billion current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 13.62 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 14.63 billion current LCU | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 15.31 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 16.31 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 17.33 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 18.91 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 20.54 billion current LCU | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 22.21 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 24.31 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2010 | 25.31 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 25.79 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 25.32 billion current LCU | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 25.71 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 28.60 billion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 2015 | 32.01 billion current LCU | +11.9% |
| 2016 | 35.49 billion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2017 | 36.12 billion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 35.93 billion current LCU | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 37.50 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 39.67 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 43.58 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 46.77 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 48.83 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 51.41 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 51.41 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.02 billion current LCU, 3.7× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Australia's 51.41 billion current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 205.71 billion current LCU, 25% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 735.50 million current LCU | 410.50 million current LCU | 1.18 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.76 billion current LCU | 1.14 billion current LCU | 2.77 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.78 billion current LCU | 3.21 billion current LCU | 7.97 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.20 billion current LCU | 8.59 billion current LCU | 12.04 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.57 billion current LCU | 12.55 billion current LCU | 24.31 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.78 billion current LCU | 25.31 billion current LCU | 37.50 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.05 billion current LCU | 39.67 billion current LCU | 51.41 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More public sector data for Australia
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Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Australia?
- Military expenditure in Australia was 51.41 billion current LCU in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 51.41 billion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 410.50 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does Australia rank for military expenditure?
- Australia ranks 84th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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)