Military expenditure (current LCU) in Thailand
Thailand: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 196.74 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
196.74 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
56th
of 168 countries
All-time high
228.28 billion current LCU
in 2020
All-time low
1.24 billion current LCU
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Thailand, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Thailand recorded 196.74 billion current LCU for military expenditure in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Thailand peaked at 228.28 billion current LCU in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.24 billion current LCU, in 1961.
Thailand ranks 56th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.33 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 1.24 billion current LCU | -7.0% |
| 1962 | 1.68 billion current LCU | +35.5% |
| 1963 | 1.78 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 1964 | 1.81 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 1.96 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1966 | 2.20 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 1967 | 2.63 billion current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1968 | 3.22 billion current LCU | +22.4% |
| 1969 | 3.85 billion current LCU | +19.6% |
| 1970 | 4.52 billion current LCU | +17.5% |
| 1971 | 5.46 billion current LCU | +20.9% |
| 1972 | 5.91 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 6.40 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1974 | 7.41 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 1975 | 8.48 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 1976 | 10.85 billion current LCU | +28.0% |
| 1977 | 14.05 billion current LCU | +29.5% |
| 1978 | 19.16 billion current LCU | +36.3% |
| 1979 | 24.48 billion current LCU | +27.8% |
| 1980 | 28.12 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 1981 | 30.89 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 34.68 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1983 | 36.41 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 40.16 billion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1985 | 44.26 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1986 | 43.02 billion current LCU | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 43.70 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 45.76 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 49.85 billion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 56.65 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1991 | 66.30 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1992 | 75.23 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 79.92 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 90.82 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1995 | 95.90 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 99.80 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 102.40 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 87.28 billion current LCU | -14.8% |
| 1999 | 77.78 billion current LCU | -10.9% |
| 2000 | 75.44 billion current LCU | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 76.43 billion current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 76.64 billion current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 77.89 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 78.47 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 75.09 billion current LCU | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 79.82 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 92.50 billion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 2008 | 121.59 billion current LCU | +31.4% |
| 2009 | 148.78 billion current LCU | +22.4% |
| 2010 | 164.56 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2011 | 157.24 billion current LCU | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 168.10 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 170.71 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 181.32 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 186.10 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 196.34 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 208.25 billion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 215.26 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 222.18 billion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 228.28 billion current LCU | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 227.44 billion current LCU | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 211.31 billion current LCU | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 199.87 billion current LCU | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 194.81 billion current LCU | -2.5% |
| 2025 | 196.74 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 196.74 billion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.44 billion current LCU, 3.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 196.74 billion current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 95% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.17 billion current LCU | 1.24 billion current LCU | 3.85 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.67 billion current LCU | 4.52 billion current LCU | 24.48 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 39.68 billion current LCU | 28.12 billion current LCU | 49.85 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.21 billion current LCU | 56.65 billion current LCU | 102.40 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 90.26 billion current LCU | 75.09 billion current LCU | 148.78 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 187.00 billion current LCU | 157.24 billion current LCU | 222.18 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 209.74 billion current LCU | 194.81 billion current LCU | 228.28 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More public sector data for Thailand
- 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 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 1.02 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -74.91 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Thailand?
- Military expenditure in Thailand was 196.74 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 228.28 billion current LCU in 2020.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.24 billion current LCU in 1961.
- How does Thailand rank for military expenditure?
- Thailand ranks 56th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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)