Military expenditure (current LCU) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 73.34 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
73.34 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 26.8%
World rank
75th
of 168 countries
All-time high
73.34 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
38.10 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Ethiopia, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Ethiopia is 73.34 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 26.8% on the previous year and up 738.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ethiopia peaked at 73.34 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 38.10 million current LCU, in 1960.
Ethiopia ranks 75th 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 38.10 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 46.10 million current LCU | +21.0% |
| 1962 | 50.15 million current LCU | +8.8% |
| 1963 | 67.80 million current LCU | +35.2% |
| 1964 | 90.35 million current LCU | +33.3% |
| 1965 | 107.25 million current LCU | +18.7% |
| 1966 | 108.55 million current LCU | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 92.50 million current LCU | -14.8% |
| 1968 | 86.65 million current LCU | -6.3% |
| 1969 | 86.05 million current LCU | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 86.35 million current LCU | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 90.10 million current LCU | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 94.40 million current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 101.65 million current LCU | +7.7% |
| 1974 | 154.75 million current LCU | +52.2% |
| 1975 | 258.90 million current LCU | +67.3% |
| 1976 | 265.05 million current LCU | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 279.55 million current LCU | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 368.90 million current LCU | +32.0% |
| 1979 | 572.00 million current LCU | +55.1% |
| 1980 | 743.80 million current LCU | +30.0% |
| 1981 | 759.65 million current LCU | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 801.85 million current LCU | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 845.40 million current LCU | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 875.65 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 888.95 million current LCU | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 909.15 million current LCU | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 986.60 million current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 1.27 billion current LCU | +29.0% |
| 1989 | 1.62 billion current LCU | +27.1% |
| 1990 | 1.63 billion current LCU | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 1.10 billion current LCU | -32.6% |
| 1992 | 715.60 million current LCU | -34.7% |
| 1993 | 819.25 million current LCU | +14.5% |
| 1994 | 812.60 million current LCU | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 754.15 million current LCU | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 803.20 million current LCU | +6.5% |
| 1997 | 1.51 billion current LCU | +88.3% |
| 1998 | 3.26 billion current LCU | +115.7% |
| 1999 | 5.59 billion current LCU | +71.3% |
| 2000 | 5.07 billion current LCU | -9.2% |
| 2001 | 2.96 billion current LCU | -41.7% |
| 2002 | 2.48 billion current LCU | -16.3% |
| 2003 | 2.40 billion current LCU | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 2.69 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 2005 | 2.96 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 3.01 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 3.25 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 3.75 billion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 2009 | 4.00 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 4.20 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 5.45 billion current LCU | +29.8% |
| 2012 | 6.50 billion current LCU | +19.3% |
| 2013 | 6.99 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 7.74 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2015 | 8.75 billion current LCU | +13.0% |
| 2016 | 10.72 billion current LCU | +22.5% |
| 2017 | 12.38 billion current LCU | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 13.91 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 2019 | 15.00 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 15.75 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 19.25 billion current LCU | +22.2% |
| 2022 | 53.00 billion current LCU | +175.3% |
| 2023 | 67.00 billion current LCU | +26.4% |
| 2024 | 57.85 billion current LCU | -13.7% |
| 2025 | 73.34 billion current LCU | +26.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 73.34 billion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is 216.60 billion current LCU, 34% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 73.34 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 60% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +175.3% | 19.25 billion current LCU | 53.00 billion current LCU |
| 1998 | +115.7% | 1.51 billion current LCU | 3.26 billion current LCU |
| 1997 | +88.3% | 803.20 million current LCU | 1.51 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 77.35 million current LCU | 38.10 million current LCU | 108.55 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 227.16 million current LCU | 86.35 million current LCU | 572.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 970.15 million current LCU | 743.80 million current LCU | 1.62 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.70 billion current LCU | 715.60 million current LCU | 5.59 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.26 billion current LCU | 2.40 billion current LCU | 5.07 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.16 billion current LCU | 4.20 billion current LCU | 15.00 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.70 billion current LCU | 15.75 billion current LCU | 73.34 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 72 Denmark 98.90 billion current LCU compare
- 73 United Arab Emirates 83.57 billion current LCU compare
- 74 Uruguay 80.38 billion current LCU compare
- 76 United Kingdom 71.18 billion current LCU compare
- 77 Equatorial Guinea 70.20 billion current LCU compare
- 78 Dominican Republic 64.00 billion current LCU compare
More public sector data for Ethiopia
- 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 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.3635 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 -95.56 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Ethiopia?
- Military expenditure in Ethiopia was 73.34 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 73.34 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.10 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does Ethiopia rank for military expenditure?
- Ethiopia ranks 75th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 738.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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)