Military expenditure (current USD) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Military expenditure was 921.66 million current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
921.66 million current USD
Change on year
down 34.6%
World rank
90th
of 168 countries
All-time high
1.79 billion current USD
in 2022
All-time low
15.34 million current USD
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Ethiopia, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 921.66 million current USD for military expenditure in 2024.
The figure is down 34.6% on the previous year and up 122.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ethiopia peaked at 1.79 billion current USD in 2022 and was at its lowest, 15.34 million current USD, in 1960.
That places Ethiopia 90th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 15.34 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 18.56 million current USD | +21.0% |
| 1962 | 20.19 million current USD | +8.8% |
| 1963 | 27.29 million current USD | +35.2% |
| 1964 | 36.14 million current USD | +32.4% |
| 1965 | 42.90 million current USD | +18.7% |
| 1966 | 43.42 million current USD | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 37.00 million current USD | -14.8% |
| 1968 | 34.66 million current USD | -6.3% |
| 1969 | 34.42 million current USD | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 34.54 million current USD | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 36.13 million current USD | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 41.04 million current USD | +13.6% |
| 1973 | 48.43 million current USD | +18.0% |
| 1974 | 74.76 million current USD | +54.4% |
| 1975 | 125.07 million current USD | +67.3% |
| 1976 | 128.04 million current USD | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 135.05 million current USD | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 178.21 million current USD | +32.0% |
| 1979 | 276.33 million current USD | +55.1% |
| 1980 | 359.32 million current USD | +30.0% |
| 1981 | 366.98 million current USD | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 387.37 million current USD | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 408.41 million current USD | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 423.02 million current USD | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 429.44 million current USD | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 439.20 million current USD | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 476.62 million current USD | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 614.86 million current USD | +29.0% |
| 1989 | 781.52 million current USD | +27.1% |
| 1990 | 785.05 million current USD | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 529.03 million current USD | -32.6% |
| 1992 | 255.34 million current USD | -51.7% |
| 1993 | 163.85 million current USD | -35.8% |
| 1994 | 148.69 million current USD | -9.3% |
| 1995 | 122.46 million current USD | -17.6% |
| 1996 | 126.45 million current USD | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 225.42 million current USD | +78.3% |
| 1998 | 458.55 million current USD | +103.4% |
| 1999 | 703.71 million current USD | +53.5% |
| 2000 | 617.54 million current USD | -12.2% |
| 2001 | 349.81 million current USD | -43.4% |
| 2002 | 288.93 million current USD | -17.4% |
| 2003 | 278.67 million current USD | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 311.04 million current USD | +11.6% |
| 2005 | 342.07 million current USD | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 345.69 million current USD | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 360.14 million current USD | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 388.19 million current USD | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 339.63 million current USD | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 303.62 million current USD | -10.6% |
| 2011 | 332.44 million current USD | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 366.54 million current USD | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 345.06 million current USD | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 414.48 million current USD | +20.1% |
| 2015 | 442.53 million current USD | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 490.18 million current USD | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 513.83 million current USD | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 516.98 million current USD | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 535.98 million current USD | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 754.47 million current USD | +40.8% |
| 2021 | 1.60 billion current USD | +111.5% |
| 2022 | 1.79 billion current USD | +11.9% |
| 2023 | 1.41 billion current USD | -21.1% |
| 2024 | 921.66 million current USD | -34.6% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 921.66 million current USD is above the median for low income countries, which is 375.21 million current USD, 2.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 921.66 million current USD is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 293.92 million current USD, 3.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +111.5% | 754.47 million current USD | 1.60 billion current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.99 million current USD | 15.34 million current USD | 43.42 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 107.76 million current USD | 34.54 million current USD | 276.33 million current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 468.67 million current USD | 359.32 million current USD | 781.52 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 351.86 million current USD | 122.46 million current USD | 785.05 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 362.17 million current USD | 278.67 million current USD | 617.54 million current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 426.16 million current USD | 303.62 million current USD | 535.98 million current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.29 billion current USD | 754.47 million current USD | 1.79 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More public sector data for Ethiopia
- 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 in Ethiopia?
- Military expenditure in Ethiopia was 921.66 million current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.79 billion current USD in 2022.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.34 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Ethiopia rank for military expenditure?
- Ethiopia ranks 90th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 122.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)