Military expenditure (current LCU) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 3.20 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.20 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 90.4%
World rank
23rd
of 168 countries
All-time high
3.20 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
16.70 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Nigeria stood at 3.20 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 90.4% on the previous year and up 704.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Nigeria peaked at 3.20 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 16.70 million current LCU, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 23rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.70 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 20.20 million current LCU | +21.0% |
| 1962 | 27.60 million current LCU | +36.6% |
| 1963 | 32.50 million current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1964 | 38.80 million current LCU | +19.4% |
| 1965 | 47.10 million current LCU | +21.4% |
| 1966 | 39.80 million current LCU | -15.5% |
| 1967 | 171.40 million current LCU | +330.7% |
| 1968 | 263.60 million current LCU | +53.8% |
| 1969 | 488.90 million current LCU | +85.5% |
| 1970 | 473.10 million current LCU | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 455.70 million current LCU | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 594.80 million current LCU | +30.5% |
| 1973 | 671.20 million current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1974 | 851.60 million current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1975 | 1.86 billion current LCU | +118.9% |
| 1976 | 1.66 billion current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1977 | 2.02 billion current LCU | +22.1% |
| 1978 | 1.92 billion current LCU | -5.1% |
| 1979 | 1.85 billion current LCU | -3.4% |
| 1980 | 1.66 billion current LCU | -10.7% |
| 1981 | 1.32 billion current LCU | -20.4% |
| 1982 | 1.11 billion current LCU | -15.7% |
| 1983 | 1.18 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 928.20 million current LCU | -21.3% |
| 1985 | 975.70 million current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 906.90 million current LCU | -7.1% |
| 1987 | 810.00 million current LCU | -10.7% |
| 1988 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +51.9% |
| 1989 | 1.26 billion current LCU | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 2.23 billion current LCU | +77.3% |
| 1991 | 2.42 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 3.00 billion current LCU | +24.4% |
| 1993 | 6.38 billion current LCU | +112.5% |
| 1994 | 7.03 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1995 | 14.00 billion current LCU | +99.1% |
| 1996 | 15.35 billion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1997 | 17.92 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1998 | 25.16 billion current LCU | +40.4% |
| 1999 | 45.40 billion current LCU | +80.4% |
| 2000 | 37.49 billion current LCU | -17.4% |
| 2001 | 63.47 billion current LCU | +69.3% |
| 2002 | 108.15 billion current LCU | +70.4% |
| 2003 | 75.91 billion current LCU | -29.8% |
| 2004 | 85.05 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2005 | 88.51 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 99.85 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 122.20 billion current LCU | +22.4% |
| 2008 | 191.51 billion current LCU | +56.7% |
| 2009 | 224.02 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 2010 | 299.11 billion current LCU | +33.5% |
| 2011 | 369.05 billion current LCU | +23.4% |
| 2012 | 364.84 billion current LCU | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 380.50 billion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 373.81 billion current LCU | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 397.50 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 444.10 billion current LCU | +11.7% |
| 2017 | 494.84 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2018 | 654.40 billion current LCU | +32.2% |
| 2019 | 668.73 billion current LCU | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 974.91 billion current LCU | +45.8% |
| 2021 | 1.78 trillion current LCU | +82.9% |
| 2022 | 1.32 trillion current LCU | -26.2% |
| 2023 | 1.98 trillion current LCU | +50.1% |
| 2024 | 1.68 trillion current LCU | -15.0% |
| 2025 | 3.20 trillion current LCU | +90.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 3.20 trillion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 26.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 3.20 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 26.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +330.7% | 39.80 million current LCU | 171.40 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 114.66 million current LCU | 16.70 million current LCU | 488.90 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.24 billion current LCU | 455.70 million current LCU | 2.02 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.14 billion current LCU | 810.00 million current LCU | 1.66 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.89 billion current LCU | 2.23 billion current LCU | 45.40 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 109.62 billion current LCU | 37.49 billion current LCU | 224.02 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 444.69 billion current LCU | 299.11 billion current LCU | 668.73 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.82 trillion current LCU | 974.91 billion current LCU | 3.20 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More public sector data for Nigeria
- 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 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.2879 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -27.96 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Nigeria?
- Military expenditure in Nigeria was 3.20 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.20 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.70 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for military expenditure?
- Nigeria ranks 23rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 704.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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)