Military expenditure (current USD) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Military expenditure was 23.48 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
23.48 billion current USD
Change on year
up 19.8%
Rank
34th
of 44 groups
All-time high
39.36 billion current USD
in 2005
All-time low
771.45 million current USD
in 1973
Years of data
52
1973–2024
Military expenditure in Least developed countries, 1973–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Least developed countries is 23.48 billion current USD, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 19.8% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Least developed countries peaked at 39.36 billion current USD in 2005 and was at its lowest, 771.45 million current USD, in 1973.
Least developed countries ranks 34th of 44 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 771.45 million current USD | — |
| 1974 | 931.77 million current USD | +20.8% |
| 1975 | 1.03 billion current USD | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 1.12 billion current USD | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 1.42 billion current USD | +27.0% |
| 1978 | 2.30 billion current USD | +62.1% |
| 1979 | 2.79 billion current USD | +21.0% |
| 1980 | 2.98 billion current USD | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 2.84 billion current USD | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 2.86 billion current USD | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 2.99 billion current USD | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 3.46 billion current USD | +15.7% |
| 1985 | 3.43 billion current USD | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 3.66 billion current USD | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 3.87 billion current USD | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 4.38 billion current USD | +13.1% |
| 1989 | 4.85 billion current USD | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 6.92 billion current USD | +42.7% |
| 1991 | 6.41 billion current USD | -7.3% |
| 1992 | 5.60 billion current USD | -12.6% |
| 1993 | 7.97 billion current USD | +42.2% |
| 1994 | 7.85 billion current USD | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 7.05 billion current USD | -10.1% |
| 1996 | 7.43 billion current USD | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 7.93 billion current USD | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 9.18 billion current USD | +15.8% |
| 1999 | 11.84 billion current USD | +29.0% |
| 2000 | 13.41 billion current USD | +13.3% |
| 2001 | 13.13 billion current USD | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 14.93 billion current USD | +13.7% |
| 2003 | 28.63 billion current USD | +91.7% |
| 2004 | 35.47 billion current USD | +23.9% |
| 2005 | 39.36 billion current USD | +11.0% |
| 2006 | 8.37 billion current USD | -78.7% |
| 2007 | 9.99 billion current USD | +19.4% |
| 2008 | 13.27 billion current USD | +32.8% |
| 2009 | 13.50 billion current USD | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 11.31 billion current USD | -16.3% |
| 2011 | 12.51 billion current USD | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 15.73 billion current USD | +25.8% |
| 2013 | 18.31 billion current USD | +16.4% |
| 2014 | 19.92 billion current USD | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 17.44 billion current USD | -12.4% |
| 2016 | 16.66 billion current USD | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 18.73 billion current USD | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 14.71 billion current USD | -21.4% |
| 2019 | 15.10 billion current USD | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 17.07 billion current USD | +13.0% |
| 2021 | 18.39 billion current USD | +7.8% |
| 2022 | 18.75 billion current USD | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 19.61 billion current USD | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 23.48 billion current USD | +19.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure in Least developed countries 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | -78.7% | 39.36 billion current USD | 8.37 billion current USD |
| 2003 | +91.7% | 14.93 billion current USD | 28.63 billion current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.48 billion current USD | 771.45 million current USD | 2.79 billion current USD | 7 |
| 1980s | 3.53 billion current USD | 2.84 billion current USD | 4.85 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.82 billion current USD | 5.60 billion current USD | 11.84 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.01 billion current USD | 8.37 billion current USD | 39.36 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.04 billion current USD | 11.31 billion current USD | 19.92 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.46 billion current USD | 17.07 billion current USD | 23.48 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 31 Denmark 9.96 billion current USD compare
- 32 Romania 8.72 billion current USD compare
- 33 Belgium 8.56 billion current USD compare
- 34 Greece 8.02 billion current USD compare
- 35 Iran 7.89 billion current USD compare
- 36 Kuwait 7.79 billion current USD compare
- 37 Finland 6.99 billion current USD compare
More public sector data for Least developed countries
- Arms imports 748.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.645 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0005 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -26.74 % change on previous year (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 748.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 19.79 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0152 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 19.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 23.48 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 36.74 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Least developed countries?
- Military expenditure in Least developed countries was 23.48 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 39.36 billion current USD in 2005.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 771.45 million current USD in 1973.
- How does Least developed countries rank for military expenditure?
- Least developed countries ranks 34th out of 44 groups with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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)