Military expenditure (current LCU) in Ghana
Ghana: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 6.37 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6.37 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 63.7%
World rank
113th
of 168 countries
All-time high
6.37 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
1,486 current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 6.37 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 63.7% on the previous year and up 783.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ghana peaked at 6.37 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,486 current LCU, in 1960.
That places Ghana 113th 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,486 current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 1,960 current LCU | +31.9% |
| 1962 | 1,995 current LCU | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 2,220 current LCU | +11.3% |
| 1964 | 2,378 current LCU | +7.1% |
| 1965 | 2,540 current LCU | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 3,380 current LCU | +33.1% |
| 1967 | 0 current LCU | -100.0% |
| 1968 | 4,515 current LCU | — |
| 1969 | 5,000 current LCU | +10.7% |
| 1970 | 4,785 current LCU | -4.3% |
| 1971 | 4,255 current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1972 | 4,025 current LCU | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 4,780 current LCU | +18.8% |
| 1974 | 7,370 current LCU | +54.2% |
| 1975 | 9,060 current LCU | +22.9% |
| 1976 | 10,225 current LCU | +12.9% |
| 1977 | 13,990 current LCU | +36.8% |
| 1978 | 17,865 current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1979 | 18,240 current LCU | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 33,150 current LCU | +81.7% |
| 1981 | 53,750 current LCU | +62.1% |
| 1982 | 46,800 current LCU | -12.9% |
| 1983 | 62,790 current LCU | +34.2% |
| 1984 | 160,500 current LCU | +155.6% |
| 1985 | 343,200 current LCU | +113.8% |
| 1986 | 460,500 current LCU | +34.2% |
| 1987 | 665,900 current LCU | +44.6% |
| 1988 | 460,300 current LCU | -30.9% |
| 1989 | 610,600 current LCU | +32.7% |
| 1990 | 900,600 current LCU | +47.5% |
| 1991 | 1.52 million current LCU | +69.1% |
| 1992 | 1.82 million current LCU | +19.5% |
| 1993 | 2.66 million current LCU | +46.1% |
| 1994 | 3.61 million current LCU | +35.9% |
| 1995 | 5.88 million current LCU | +62.7% |
| 1996 | 7.26 million current LCU | +23.5% |
| 1997 | 9.31 million current LCU | +28.2% |
| 1998 | 13.28 million current LCU | +42.6% |
| 1999 | 15.81 million current LCU | +19.0% |
| 2000 | 27.73 million current LCU | +75.4% |
| 2001 | 23.17 million current LCU | -16.4% |
| 2002 | 29.30 million current LCU | +26.4% |
| 2003 | 46.15 million current LCU | +57.5% |
| 2004 | 50.69 million current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 58.18 million current LCU | +14.8% |
| 2006 | 69.41 million current LCU | +19.3% |
| 2007 | 117.91 million current LCU | +69.9% |
| 2008 | 120.25 million current LCU | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 166.65 million current LCU | +38.6% |
| 2010 | 175.27 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 354.27 million current LCU | +102.1% |
| 2012 | 605.66 million current LCU | +71.0% |
| 2013 | 498.28 million current LCU | -17.7% |
| 2014 | 769.60 million current LCU | +54.5% |
| 2015 | 721.10 million current LCU | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 639.93 million current LCU | -11.3% |
| 2017 | 821.77 million current LCU | +28.4% |
| 2018 | 1.01 billion current LCU | +22.4% |
| 2019 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +21.9% |
| 2020 | 1.38 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 2021 | 1.77 billion current LCU | +28.5% |
| 2022 | 2.06 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 2023 | 3.33 billion current LCU | +61.4% |
| 2024 | 3.89 billion current LCU | +16.9% |
| 2025 | 6.37 billion current LCU | +63.7% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 6.37 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 5% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 6.37 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 5% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,547 current LCU | 0 current LCU | 5,000 current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 9,460 current LCU | 4,025 current LCU | 18,240 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 289,749 current LCU | 33,150 current LCU | 665,900 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.21 million current LCU | 900,600 current LCU | 15.81 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.94 million current LCU | 23.17 million current LCU | 166.65 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 681.73 million current LCU | 175.27 million current LCU | 1.23 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.13 billion current LCU | 1.38 billion current LCU | 6.37 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More public sector data for Ghana
- 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 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.3195 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 37.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Ghana?
- Military expenditure in Ghana was 6.37 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 6.37 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,486 current LCU in 1960.
- How does Ghana rank for military expenditure?
- Ghana ranks 113th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 783.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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)