Military expenditure (current LCU) in Gambia
Gambia: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 1.07 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Gambia, 1983–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Gambia stood at 1.07 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 80.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Gambia peaked at 1.07 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.92 million current LCU, in 1983.
Gambia ranks 145th of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Gambia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 1.92 million current LCU | — |
| 1984 | 3.04 million current LCU | +58.1% |
| 1985 | 4.84 million current LCU | +59.6% |
| 1986 | 7.25 million current LCU | +49.6% |
| 1987 | 9.85 million current LCU | +35.9% |
| 1988 | 14.50 million current LCU | +47.2% |
| 1989 | 20.65 million current LCU | +42.4% |
| 1990 | 27.30 million current LCU | +32.2% |
| 1991 | 34.90 million current LCU | +27.8% |
| 1992 | 31.15 million current LCU | -10.7% |
| 1993 | 23.30 million current LCU | -25.2% |
| 1994 | 22.20 million current LCU | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 27.55 million current LCU | +24.1% |
| 1996 | 38.50 million current LCU | +39.7% |
| 1997 | 42.60 million current LCU | +10.6% |
| 1998 | 43.10 million current LCU | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 40.10 million current LCU | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 42.50 million current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 38.50 million current LCU | -9.4% |
| 2002 | 45.00 million current LCU | +16.9% |
| 2003 | 57.00 million current LCU | +26.7% |
| 2004 | 58.00 million current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 85.30 million current LCU | +47.1% |
| 2006 | 78.20 million current LCU | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 113.10 million current LCU | +44.6% |
| 2008 | 380.90 million current LCU | +236.8% |
| 2009 | 189.05 million current LCU | -50.4% |
| 2012 | 358.40 million current LCU | +89.6% |
| 2013 | 373.20 million current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 609.30 million current LCU | +63.3% |
| 2015 | 591.00 million current LCU | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 552.66 million current LCU | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 723.92 million current LCU | +31.0% |
| 2020 | 762.10 million current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 817.70 million current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 854.83 million current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 881.04 million current LCU | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 992.92 million current LCU | +12.7% |
| 2025 | 1.07 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 1.07 billion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is 216.60 billion current LCU, 0% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 1.07 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 1% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in Gambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +236.8% | 113.10 million current LCU | 380.90 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.86 million current LCU | 1.92 million current LCU | 20.65 million current LCU | 7 |
| 1990s | 33.07 million current LCU | 22.20 million current LCU | 43.10 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 108.75 million current LCU | 38.50 million current LCU | 380.90 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 534.75 million current LCU | 358.40 million current LCU | 723.92 million current LCU | 6 |
| 2020s | 895.72 million current LCU | 762.10 million current LCU | 1.07 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More public sector data for Gambia
- 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 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 0 SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Gambia?
- Military expenditure in Gambia was 1.07 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.07 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.92 million current LCU in 1983.
- How does Gambia rank for military expenditure?
- Gambia ranks 145th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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)