Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: Military expenditure (current USD), per capita was 4.87 current USD per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Nigeria, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per person.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 4.87 current USD per person for military expenditure (current usd), per capita in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 64.2% on the previous year and down 61.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Nigeria peaked at 47.76 current USD per person in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0.5189 current USD per person, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 159th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, 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 USD), per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | current USD per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.5189 current USD per person | — |
| 1961 | 0.6149 current USD per person | +18.5% |
| 1962 | 0.8227 current USD per person | +33.8% |
| 1963 | 0.9484 current USD per person | +15.3% |
| 1964 | 1.11 current USD per person | +16.9% |
| 1965 | 1.32 current USD per person | +18.8% |
| 1966 | 1.09 current USD per person | -17.3% |
| 1967 | 4.59 current USD per person | +321.6% |
| 1968 | 6.91 current USD per person | +50.5% |
| 1969 | 12.53 current USD per person | +81.4% |
| 1970 | 11.85 current USD per person | -5.4% |
| 1971 | 11.17 current USD per person | -5.7% |
| 1972 | 15.43 current USD per person | +38.1% |
| 1973 | 16.98 current USD per person | +10.1% |
| 1974 | 21.91 current USD per person | +29.0% |
| 1975 | 47.76 current USD per person | +118.0% |
| 1976 | 40.52 current USD per person | -15.2% |
| 1977 | 46.68 current USD per person | +15.2% |
| 1978 | 43.6 current USD per person | -6.6% |
| 1979 | 42.95 current USD per person | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 41.08 current USD per person | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 28.07 current USD per person | -31.7% |
| 1982 | 21.08 current USD per person | -24.9% |
| 1983 | 20.23 current USD per person | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 14.67 current USD per person | -27.5% |
| 1985 | 12.86 current USD per person | -12.4% |
| 1986 | 5.93 current USD per person | -53.9% |
| 1987 | 2.25 current USD per person | -62.0% |
| 1988 | 2.95 current USD per person | +30.9% |
| 1989 | 1.81 current USD per person | -38.7% |
| 1990 | 2.86 current USD per person | +58.1% |
| 1991 | 2.44 current USD per person | -14.4% |
| 1992 | 1.7 current USD per person | -30.6% |
| 1993 | 2.75 current USD per person | +62.2% |
| 1994 | 2.96 current USD per person | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 5.77 current USD per person | +94.8% |
| 1996 | 6.17 current USD per person | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 7.01 current USD per person | +13.7% |
| 1998 | 9.59 current USD per person | +36.8% |
| 1999 | 4 current USD per person | -58.3% |
| 2000 | 2.92 current USD per person | -27.0% |
| 2001 | 4.39 current USD per person | +50.6% |
| 2002 | 6.72 current USD per person | +52.9% |
| 2003 | 4.28 current USD per person | -36.3% |
| 2004 | 4.54 current USD per person | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 4.65 current USD per person | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 5.21 current USD per person | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 6.34 current USD per person | +21.7% |
| 2008 | 10.25 current USD per person | +61.8% |
| 2009 | 9.28 current USD per person | -9.4% |
| 2010 | 11.94 current USD per person | +28.6% |
| 2011 | 13.92 current USD per person | +16.5% |
| 2012 | 13.15 current USD per person | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 13.36 current USD per person | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 12.68 current USD per person | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 10.83 current USD per person | -14.6% |
| 2016 | 8.82 current USD per person | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 8.1 current USD per person | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 9.97 current USD per person | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 8.88 current USD per person | -10.9% |
| 2020 | 12 current USD per person | +35.1% |
| 2021 | 20.44 current USD per person | +70.3% |
| 2022 | 13.93 current USD per person | -31.8% |
| 2023 | 13.61 current USD per person | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 4.87 current USD per person | -64.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 4.87 current USD per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.8 current USD per person, 20% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 4.87 current USD per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.42 current USD per person, 26% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 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 | +321.6% | 1.09 current USD per person | 4.59 current USD per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.04 current USD per person | 0.5189 current USD per person | 12.53 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.88 current USD per person | 11.17 current USD per person | 47.76 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.09 current USD per person | 1.81 current USD per person | 41.08 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.52 current USD per person | 1.7 current USD per person | 9.59 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.86 current USD per person | 2.92 current USD per person | 10.25 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.16 current USD per person | 8.1 current USD per person | 13.92 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.97 current USD per person | 4.87 current USD per person | 20.44 current USD per person | 5 |
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)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Nigeria?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Nigeria was 4.87 current USD per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 47.76 current USD per person in 1975.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5189 current USD per person in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for military expenditure (current usd), per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 159th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per capita rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.