Military expenditure (current LCU) in Guatemala
Guatemala: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 4.86 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.86 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 38.2%
World rank
120th
of 168 countries
All-time high
4.86 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
11.95 million current LCU
in 1962
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Guatemala, 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 Guatemala is 4.86 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 38.2% on the previous year and up 151.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Guatemala peaked at 4.86 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.95 million current LCU, in 1962.
Guatemala ranks 120th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12.08 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 12.08 million current LCU | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 11.95 million current LCU | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 14.81 million current LCU | +23.9% |
| 1964 | 12.99 million current LCU | -12.3% |
| 1965 | 18.58 million current LCU | +43.0% |
| 1966 | 19.10 million current LCU | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 21.18 million current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 20.40 million current LCU | -3.7% |
| 1969 | 17.60 million current LCU | -13.7% |
| 1970 | 32.30 million current LCU | +83.5% |
| 1971 | 22.20 million current LCU | -31.3% |
| 1972 | 24.00 million current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1973 | 23.40 million current LCU | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 28.40 million current LCU | +21.4% |
| 1975 | 44.90 million current LCU | +58.1% |
| 1976 | 55.50 million current LCU | +23.6% |
| 1977 | 75.20 million current LCU | +35.5% |
| 1978 | 71.70 million current LCU | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 90.20 million current LCU | +25.8% |
| 1980 | 103.76 million current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1981 | 162.64 million current LCU | +56.7% |
| 1982 | 176.59 million current LCU | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 184.25 million current LCU | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 207.48 million current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1985 | 224.42 million current LCU | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 264.10 million current LCU | +17.7% |
| 1987 | 310.07 million current LCU | +17.4% |
| 1988 | 384.00 million current LCU | +23.8% |
| 1989 | 427.00 million current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 593.00 million current LCU | +38.9% |
| 1991 | 600.00 million current LCU | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 795.00 million current LCU | +32.5% |
| 1993 | 814.00 million current LCU | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 880.00 million current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 920.06 million current LCU | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 855.22 million current LCU | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 801.30 million current LCU | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 894.00 million current LCU | +11.6% |
| 1999 | 914.00 million current LCU | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +34.1% |
| 2001 | 1.55 billion current LCU | +26.2% |
| 2002 | 1.24 billion current LCU | -19.9% |
| 2003 | 1.42 billion current LCU | +14.6% |
| 2004 | 913.00 million current LCU | -35.7% |
| 2005 | 797.50 million current LCU | -12.7% |
| 2006 | 992.50 million current LCU | +24.5% |
| 2007 | 1.04 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 1.26 billion current LCU | +20.7% |
| 2009 | 1.20 billion current LCU | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 1.37 billion current LCU | +13.7% |
| 2011 | 1.54 billion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 1.76 billion current LCU | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 1.96 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 2014 | 1.90 billion current LCU | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 1.93 billion current LCU | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 2.21 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2017 | 2.02 billion current LCU | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 2.05 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.55 billion current LCU | +24.4% |
| 2020 | 2.65 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 2.61 billion current LCU | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 3.42 billion current LCU | +30.9% |
| 2023 | 3.43 billion current LCU | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 3.52 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 4.86 billion current LCU | +38.2% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 4.86 billion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.44 billion current LCU, 9% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 4.86 billion current LCU is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.18 billion current LCU, 40% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.08 million current LCU | 11.95 million current LCU | 21.18 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.78 million current LCU | 22.20 million current LCU | 90.20 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 244.43 million current LCU | 103.76 million current LCU | 427.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 806.66 million current LCU | 593.00 million current LCU | 920.06 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.16 billion current LCU | 797.50 million current LCU | 1.55 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.93 billion current LCU | 1.37 billion current LCU | 2.55 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.41 billion current LCU | 2.61 billion current LCU | 4.86 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More public sector data for Guatemala
- 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 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.331 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -40 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Guatemala?
- Military expenditure in Guatemala was 4.86 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 4.86 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.95 million current LCU in 1962.
- How does Guatemala rank for military expenditure?
- Guatemala ranks 120th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 151.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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)