Military expenditure (current USD) in Japan
Japan: Military expenditure was 55.27 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
55.27 billion current USD
Change on year
up 14.7%
World rank
10th
of 168 countries
All-time high
60.76 billion current USD
in 2011
All-time low
480.56 million current USD
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Japan, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
Japan recorded 55.27 billion current USD for military expenditure in 2024.
That represents a change of up 14.7% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Japan peaked at 60.76 billion current USD in 2011 and was at its lowest, 480.56 million current USD, in 1960.
Japan ranks 10th of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Japan, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 480.56 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 492.36 million current USD | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 538.19 million current USD | +9.3% |
| 1963 | 629.86 million current USD | +17.0% |
| 1964 | 718.06 million current USD | +14.0% |
| 1965 | 821.39 million current USD | +14.4% |
| 1966 | 932.43 million current USD | +13.5% |
| 1967 | 1.04 billion current USD | +11.4% |
| 1968 | 1.17 billion current USD | +12.4% |
| 1969 | 1.34 billion current USD | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 1.58 billion current USD | +18.0% |
| 1971 | 1.90 billion current USD | +20.4% |
| 1972 | 2.57 billion current USD | +35.4% |
| 1973 | 3.37 billion current USD | +31.4% |
| 1974 | 3.96 billion current USD | +17.4% |
| 1975 | 4.53 billion current USD | +14.5% |
| 1976 | 5.01 billion current USD | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 6.16 billion current USD | +22.9% |
| 1978 | 8.66 billion current USD | +40.6% |
| 1979 | 9.17 billion current USD | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 9.71 billion current USD | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 10.85 billion current USD | +11.7% |
| 1982 | 10.19 billion current USD | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 11.43 billion current USD | +12.1% |
| 1984 | 12.23 billion current USD | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 13.09 billion current USD | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 19.46 billion current USD | +48.7% |
| 1987 | 23.64 billion current USD | +21.5% |
| 1988 | 28.22 billion current USD | +19.3% |
| 1989 | 27.97 billion current USD | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 28.80 billion current USD | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 32.79 billion current USD | +13.8% |
| 1992 | 36.00 billion current USD | +9.8% |
| 1993 | 41.35 billion current USD | +14.9% |
| 1994 | 45.29 billion current USD | +9.5% |
| 1995 | 49.96 billion current USD | +10.3% |
| 1996 | 44.05 billion current USD | -11.8% |
| 1997 | 40.63 billion current USD | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 37.85 billion current USD | -6.9% |
| 1999 | 43.12 billion current USD | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 45.51 billion current USD | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 40.76 billion current USD | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 39.33 billion current USD | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 42.49 billion current USD | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 45.34 billion current USD | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 44.30 billion current USD | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 41.55 billion current USD | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 40.53 billion current USD | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 46.36 billion current USD | +14.4% |
| 2009 | 51.47 billion current USD | +11.0% |
| 2010 | 54.66 billion current USD | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 60.76 billion current USD | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 60.01 billion current USD | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 49.02 billion current USD | -18.3% |
| 2014 | 46.90 billion current USD | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 42.11 billion current USD | -10.2% |
| 2016 | 46.47 billion current USD | +10.4% |
| 2017 | 45.06 billion current USD | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 48.54 billion current USD | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 50.78 billion current USD | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 51.40 billion current USD | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 53.60 billion current USD | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 43.20 billion current USD | -19.4% |
| 2023 | 48.19 billion current USD | +11.6% |
| 2024 | 55.27 billion current USD | +14.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 55.27 billion current USD is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 8.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Japan's 55.27 billion current USD is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.66 billion current USD, 11.9× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 815.55 million current USD | 480.56 million current USD | 1.34 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.69 billion current USD | 1.58 billion current USD | 9.17 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.68 billion current USD | 9.71 billion current USD | 28.22 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.98 billion current USD | 28.80 billion current USD | 49.96 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.76 billion current USD | 39.33 billion current USD | 51.47 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.43 billion current USD | 42.11 billion current USD | 60.76 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.33 billion current USD | 43.20 billion current USD | 55.27 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More public sector data for Japan
- 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)
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- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Japan?
- Military expenditure in Japan was 55.27 billion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 60.76 billion current USD in 2011.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 480.56 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Japan rank for military expenditure?
- Japan ranks 10th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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)