Military expenditure (current LCU) in Congo
Congo: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 119.16 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
119.16 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
70th
of 168 countries
All-time high
348.51 billion current LCU
in 2014
All-time low
3.21 billion current LCU
in 1972
Years of data
39
1970–2025
Military expenditure in Congo, 1970–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Congo recorded 119.16 billion current LCU for military expenditure in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% on the previous year and down 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Congo peaked at 348.51 billion current LCU in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.21 billion current LCU, in 1972.
That places Congo 70th 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 Congo, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.62 billion current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 3.79 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 3.21 billion current LCU | -15.2% |
| 1973 | 4.33 billion current LCU | +34.8% |
| 1974 | 5.81 billion current LCU | +34.2% |
| 1975 | 7.18 billion current LCU | +23.5% |
| 1976 | 8.21 billion current LCU | +14.3% |
| 1977 | 9.00 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1978 | 8.57 billion current LCU | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 11.18 billion current LCU | +30.5% |
| 1980 | 12.13 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1981 | 17.26 billion current LCU | +42.3% |
| 1982 | 23.80 billion current LCU | +37.9% |
| 1984 | 21.60 billion current LCU | -9.3% |
| 1985 | 25.00 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 1987 | 30.21 billion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1992 | 33.25 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 31.00 billion current LCU | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 39.91 billion current LCU | +28.7% |
| 2002 | 49.28 billion current LCU | +23.5% |
| 2003 | 54.50 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2004 | 65.67 billion current LCU | +20.5% |
| 2005 | 53.23 billion current LCU | -18.9% |
| 2006 | 66.18 billion current LCU | +24.3% |
| 2007 | 80.56 billion current LCU | +21.7% |
| 2008 | 93.02 billion current LCU | +15.5% |
| 2010 | 108.16 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 2013 | 181.34 billion current LCU | +67.7% |
| 2014 | 348.51 billion current LCU | +92.2% |
| 2016 | 297.65 billion current LCU | -14.6% |
| 2017 | 218.39 billion current LCU | -26.6% |
| 2018 | 162.42 billion current LCU | -25.6% |
| 2019 | 175.76 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 171.71 billion current LCU | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 173.65 billion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 165.80 billion current LCU | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 172.87 billion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 110.39 billion current LCU | -36.1% |
| 2025 | 119.16 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 119.16 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 98% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Congo's 119.16 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.49 billion current LCU | 3.21 billion current LCU | 11.18 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.67 billion current LCU | 12.13 billion current LCU | 30.21 billion current LCU | 6 |
| 1990s | 32.12 billion current LCU | 31.00 billion current LCU | 33.25 billion current LCU | 2 |
| 2000s | 62.79 billion current LCU | 39.91 billion current LCU | 93.02 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 2010s | 213.18 billion current LCU | 108.16 billion current LCU | 348.51 billion current LCU | 7 |
| 2020s | 152.26 billion current LCU | 110.39 billion current LCU | 173.65 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More public sector data for Congo
- 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 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.5091 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -66.67 % change on previous year (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Congo?
- Military expenditure in Congo was 119.16 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 348.51 billion current LCU in 2014.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.21 billion current LCU in 1972.
- How does Congo rank for military expenditure?
- Congo ranks 70th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)