Military expenditure (current LCU) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 4.91 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.91 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
119th
of 168 countries
All-time high
4.96 billion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
69.17 million current LCU
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in New Zealand, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 4.91 billion current LCU for military expenditure in 2025.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 97.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in New Zealand peaked at 4.96 billion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 69.17 million current LCU, in 1961.
New Zealand ranks 119th 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 72.30 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 69.17 million current LCU | -4.3% |
| 1962 | 69.28 million current LCU | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 71.95 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 1964 | 88.75 million current LCU | +23.3% |
| 1965 | 91.33 million current LCU | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 106.60 million current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1967 | 109.75 million current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 121.00 million current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1969 | 131.75 million current LCU | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 153.50 million current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1971 | 159.25 million current LCU | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 172.50 million current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1973 | 181.50 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 208.50 million current LCU | +14.9% |
| 1975 | 243.25 million current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1976 | 273.00 million current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1977 | 316.75 million current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1978 | 374.75 million current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1979 | 427.50 million current LCU | +14.1% |
| 1980 | 695.00 million current LCU | +62.6% |
| 1981 | 761.25 million current LCU | +9.5% |
| 1982 | 811.25 million current LCU | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 849.50 million current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 935.50 million current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1985 | 1.07 billion current LCU | +14.5% |
| 1986 | 1.32 billion current LCU | +23.5% |
| 1987 | 1.57 billion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 1988 | 1.47 billion current LCU | -6.4% |
| 1989 | 1.60 billion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 1.77 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1991 | 1.71 billion current LCU | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 1.62 billion current LCU | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 1.60 billion current LCU | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 1.65 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 1.75 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 1.80 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.79 billion current LCU | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 1.81 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.83 billion current LCU | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 1.89 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.90 billion current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 1.87 billion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 1.88 billion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 1.80 billion current LCU | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 1.83 billion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 2.10 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2007 | 2.17 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.18 billion current LCU | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 2.34 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 2.44 billion current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 2.45 billion current LCU | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 2.41 billion current LCU | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.38 billion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 2.40 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 2.49 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 2.76 billion current LCU | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 3.01 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 3.34 billion current LCU | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 4.14 billion current LCU | +23.7% |
| 2020 | 4.33 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 4.11 billion current LCU | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 4.46 billion current LCU | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 4.94 billion current LCU | +10.8% |
| 2024 | 4.96 billion current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 4.91 billion current LCU | -1.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 4.91 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 28% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 4.91 billion current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 2% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +62.6% | 427.50 million current LCU | 695.00 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 93.19 million current LCU | 69.17 million current LCU | 131.75 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 251.05 million current LCU | 153.50 million current LCU | 427.50 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.11 billion current LCU | 695.00 million current LCU | 1.60 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 billion current LCU | 1.60 billion current LCU | 1.83 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.00 billion current LCU | 1.80 billion current LCU | 2.34 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.78 billion current LCU | 2.38 billion current LCU | 4.14 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.62 billion current LCU | 4.11 billion current LCU | 4.96 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More public sector data for New Zealand
- 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 200.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 37.81 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0008 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -50.62 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in New Zealand?
- Military expenditure in New Zealand was 4.91 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 4.96 billion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.17 million current LCU in 1961.
- How does New Zealand rank for military expenditure?
- New Zealand ranks 119th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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)