Military expenditure (current LCU) in Japan
Japan: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 9.30 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.30 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 13.3%
World rank
12th
of 168 countries
All-time high
9.30 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
173.00 billion current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Japan, 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 Japan is 9.30 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.3% on the previous year and up 82.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Japan peaked at 9.30 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 173.00 billion current LCU, in 1960.
That places Japan 12th out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Japan, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 173.00 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 177.25 billion current LCU | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 193.75 billion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 1963 | 226.75 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1964 | 258.50 billion current LCU | +14.0% |
| 1965 | 295.70 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 1966 | 335.68 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1967 | 374.05 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 1968 | 420.55 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1969 | 480.75 billion current LCU | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 567.12 billion current LCU | +18.0% |
| 1971 | 665.08 billion current LCU | +17.3% |
| 1972 | 778.40 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1973 | 916.88 billion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1974 | 1.16 trillion current LCU | +26.2% |
| 1975 | 1.35 trillion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1976 | 1.49 trillion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 1.65 trillion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 1978 | 1.82 trillion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1979 | 2.01 trillion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 2.20 trillion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 1981 | 2.39 trillion current LCU | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 2.54 trillion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1983 | 2.71 trillion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 2.90 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 3.12 trillion current LCU | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 3.28 trillion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 3.42 trillion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 3.62 trillion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 3.86 trillion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 4.17 trillion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1991 | 4.42 trillion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 4.56 trillion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 4.60 trillion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 4.63 trillion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 4.70 trillion current LCU | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 4.79 trillion current LCU | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 4.92 trillion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 4.95 trillion current LCU | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 4.91 trillion current LCU | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 4.90 trillion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 4.95 trillion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 4.93 trillion current LCU | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 4.93 trillion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 4.91 trillion current LCU | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 4.88 trillion current LCU | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 4.83 trillion current LCU | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 4.77 trillion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 4.79 trillion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 4.82 trillion current LCU | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 4.80 trillion current LCU | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 4.85 trillion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 4.79 trillion current LCU | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 4.78 trillion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 4.97 trillion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 5.10 trillion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 5.06 trillion current LCU | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 5.05 trillion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 5.36 trillion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 5.54 trillion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 5.49 trillion current LCU | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 5.88 trillion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 5.67 trillion current LCU | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 6.76 trillion current LCU | +19.1% |
| 2024 | 8.21 trillion current LCU | +21.5% |
| 2025 | 9.30 trillion current LCU | +13.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 9.30 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 521.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Japan's 9.30 trillion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 45.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 293.60 billion current LCU | 173.00 billion current LCU | 480.75 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.24 trillion current LCU | 567.12 billion current LCU | 2.01 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.00 trillion current LCU | 2.20 trillion current LCU | 3.86 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.66 trillion current LCU | 4.17 trillion current LCU | 4.95 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.87 trillion current LCU | 4.77 trillion current LCU | 4.95 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.03 trillion current LCU | 4.78 trillion current LCU | 5.54 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.89 trillion current LCU | 5.49 trillion current LCU | 9.30 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More public sector data for Japan
- 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 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 7.88 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 2.09 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Japan?
- Military expenditure in Japan was 9.30 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 9.30 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 173.00 billion current LCU in 1960.
- How does Japan rank for military expenditure?
- Japan ranks 12th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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)