Military expenditure (current LCU) in Benin
Benin: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 126.13 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Benin, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Benin stood at 126.13 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 24.3% on the previous year and up 134.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Benin peaked at 126.13 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 319.00 million current LCU, in 1960.
That places Benin 66th out of 168 countries with data for 2025, 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 (current LCU) in Benin, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 319.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 533.00 million current LCU | +67.1% |
| 1962 | 670.00 million current LCU | +25.7% |
| 1963 | 726.00 million current LCU | +8.4% |
| 1964 | 932.00 million current LCU | +28.4% |
| 1965 | 979.00 million current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 915.00 million current LCU | -6.5% |
| 1967 | 962.00 million current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 1.06 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1969 | 1.04 billion current LCU | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 1.13 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1971 | 1.18 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 1.24 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 1.49 billion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1974 | 1.55 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 1.68 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1976 | 1.71 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 2.49 billion current LCU | +45.7% |
| 1978 | 1.93 billion current LCU | -22.6% |
| 1979 | 3.74 billion current LCU | +93.6% |
| 1980 | 4.99 billion current LCU | +33.6% |
| 1981 | 4.67 billion current LCU | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 5.44 billion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1983 | 6.77 billion current LCU | +24.4% |
| 1984 | 9.28 billion current LCU | +37.1% |
| 1985 | 8.90 billion current LCU | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 9.10 billion current LCU | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 10.70 billion current LCU | +17.6% |
| 1988 | 11.00 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 9.10 billion current LCU | -17.3% |
| 1990 | 8.94 billion current LCU | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 10.99 billion current LCU | +23.0% |
| 2000 | 10.32 billion current LCU | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 9.61 billion current LCU | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 18.12 billion current LCU | +88.5% |
| 2003 | 20.08 billion current LCU | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 22.07 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2005 | 23.58 billion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 24.46 billion current LCU | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 28.98 billion current LCU | +18.5% |
| 2012 | 39.94 billion current LCU | +37.8% |
| 2013 | 42.49 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 45.98 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 53.76 billion current LCU | +16.9% |
| 2016 | 47.19 billion current LCU | -12.2% |
| 2017 | 67.90 billion current LCU | +43.9% |
| 2018 | 50.13 billion current LCU | -26.2% |
| 2019 | 39.91 billion current LCU | -20.4% |
| 2020 | 41.33 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 54.04 billion current LCU | +30.8% |
| 2022 | 68.61 billion current LCU | +27.0% |
| 2023 | 90.41 billion current LCU | +31.8% |
| 2024 | 101.45 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 2025 | 126.13 billion current LCU | +24.3% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 126.13 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 1.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Benin's 126.13 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 814.30 million current LCU | 319.00 million current LCU | 1.06 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.81 billion current LCU | 1.13 billion current LCU | 3.74 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.00 billion current LCU | 4.67 billion current LCU | 11.00 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.96 billion current LCU | 8.94 billion current LCU | 10.99 billion current LCU | 2 |
| 2000s | 19.65 billion current LCU | 9.61 billion current LCU | 28.98 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 2010s | 48.41 billion current LCU | 39.91 billion current LCU | 67.90 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 2020s | 80.33 billion current LCU | 41.33 billion current LCU | 126.13 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More public sector data for Benin
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4149 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -45.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Benin?
- Military expenditure in Benin was 126.13 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 126.13 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 319.00 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does Benin rank for military expenditure?
- Benin ranks 66th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 134.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin 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)