Military expenditure (current LCU) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 441.91 million current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
441.91 million current LCU
Change on year
up 25.3%
World rank
153rd
of 168 countries
All-time high
468.30 million current LCU
in 2022
All-time low
6.06 million current LCU
in 1975
Years of data
48
1975–2025
Military expenditure in Papua New Guinea, 1975–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Papua New Guinea is 441.91 million current LCU, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 25.3% on the previous year and up 59.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Papua New Guinea peaked at 468.30 million current LCU in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.06 million current LCU, in 1975.
That places Papua New Guinea 153rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 6.06 million current LCU | — |
| 1976 | 17.43 million current LCU | +187.6% |
| 1977 | 17.63 million current LCU | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 19.44 million current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 21.46 million current LCU | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 26.03 million current LCU | +21.3% |
| 1981 | 25.74 million current LCU | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 34.30 million current LCU | +33.3% |
| 1986 | 36.38 million current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 38.48 million current LCU | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 40.14 million current LCU | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 45.58 million current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1990 | 65.60 million current LCU | +43.9% |
| 1991 | 50.10 million current LCU | -23.6% |
| 1992 | 56.50 million current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1993 | 67.10 million current LCU | +18.8% |
| 1994 | 84.20 million current LCU | +25.5% |
| 1995 | 72.19 million current LCU | -14.3% |
| 1996 | 103.87 million current LCU | +43.9% |
| 1997 | 114.40 million current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1998 | 103.10 million current LCU | -9.9% |
| 1999 | 91.72 million current LCU | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 93.50 million current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 85.50 million current LCU | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 66.30 million current LCU | -22.5% |
| 2003 | 68.80 million current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 78.70 million current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 94.50 million current LCU | +20.1% |
| 2006 | 95.70 million current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 116.50 million current LCU | +21.7% |
| 2008 | 106.20 million current LCU | -8.8% |
| 2009 | 143.40 million current LCU | +35.0% |
| 2010 | 126.00 million current LCU | -12.1% |
| 2011 | 152.20 million current LCU | +20.8% |
| 2012 | 230.50 million current LCU | +51.4% |
| 2013 | 235.90 million current LCU | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 276.60 million current LCU | +17.3% |
| 2015 | 276.40 million current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 247.70 million current LCU | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 257.40 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 262.20 million current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 304.10 million current LCU | +16.0% |
| 2020 | 324.50 million current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 302.07 million current LCU | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 468.30 million current LCU | +55.0% |
| 2023 | 362.75 million current LCU | -22.5% |
| 2024 | 352.59 million current LCU | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 441.91 million current LCU | +25.3% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 441.91 million current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 0% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 441.91 million current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 0% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in Papua New Guinea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +187.6% | 6.06 million current LCU | 17.43 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.40 million current LCU | 6.06 million current LCU | 21.46 million current LCU | 5 |
| 1980s | 35.24 million current LCU | 25.74 million current LCU | 45.58 million current LCU | 7 |
| 1990s | 80.88 million current LCU | 50.10 million current LCU | 114.40 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.91 million current LCU | 66.30 million current LCU | 143.40 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 236.90 million current LCU | 126.00 million current LCU | 304.10 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 375.35 million current LCU | 302.07 million current LCU | 468.30 million current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 150 Cyprus 588.00 million current LCU compare
- 151 Bahrain 552.02 million current LCU compare
- 152 El Salvador 490.00 million current LCU compare
- 154 Seychelles 408.85 million current LCU compare
- 155 Bosnia and Herzegovina 401.19 million current LCU compare
- 156 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 207.88 million current LCU compare
More public sector data for Papua New Guinea
- 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 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.8663 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 600 % change on previous year (1997)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Papua New Guinea?
- Military expenditure in Papua New Guinea was 441.91 million current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 468.30 million current LCU in 2022.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.06 million current LCU in 1975.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for military expenditure?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 153rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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)