Military expenditure (current USD) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Military expenditure (current USD) was 2.86 billion current USD in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.86 billion current USD
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
58th
of 168 countries
All-time high
3.03 billion current USD
in 2023
All-time low
96.32 million current USD
in 1962
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in New Zealand, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in New Zealand is 2.86 billion current USD, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 4.8% on the previous year and up 64.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in New Zealand peaked at 3.03 billion current USD in 2023 and was at its lowest, 96.32 million current USD, in 1962.
New Zealand ranks 58th 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 USD) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 101.22 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 96.68 million current USD | -4.5% |
| 1962 | 96.32 million current USD | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 100.04 million current USD | +3.9% |
| 1964 | 123.40 million current USD | +23.3% |
| 1965 | 126.98 million current USD | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 148.22 million current USD | +16.7% |
| 1967 | 149.59 million current USD | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 135.52 million current USD | -9.4% |
| 1969 | 147.56 million current USD | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 171.92 million current USD | +16.5% |
| 1971 | 180.84 million current USD | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 206.17 million current USD | +14.0% |
| 1973 | 246.33 million current USD | +19.5% |
| 1974 | 291.44 million current USD | +18.3% |
| 1975 | 292.26 million current USD | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 271.67 million current USD | -7.0% |
| 1977 | 307.43 million current USD | +13.2% |
| 1978 | 388.57 million current USD | +26.4% |
| 1979 | 436.89 million current USD | +12.4% |
| 1980 | 676.94 million current USD | +54.9% |
| 1981 | 660.35 million current USD | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 608.77 million current USD | -7.8% |
| 1983 | 567.55 million current USD | -6.8% |
| 1984 | 530.33 million current USD | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 529.19 million current USD | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 691.13 million current USD | +30.6% |
| 1987 | 925.76 million current USD | +33.9% |
| 1988 | 961.84 million current USD | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 959.60 million current USD | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 1.06 billion current USD | +10.2% |
| 1991 | 989.03 million current USD | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 870.40 million current USD | -12.0% |
| 1993 | 866.79 million current USD | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 979.53 million current USD | +13.0% |
| 1995 | 1.15 billion current USD | +17.0% |
| 1996 | 1.24 billion current USD | +8.0% |
| 1997 | 1.18 billion current USD | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 969.36 million current USD | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 970.31 million current USD | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 858.41 million current USD | -11.5% |
| 2001 | 796.64 million current USD | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 865.79 million current USD | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 1.09 billion current USD | +26.0% |
| 2004 | 1.19 billion current USD | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 1.29 billion current USD | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 1.36 billion current USD | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 1.59 billion current USD | +17.1% |
| 2008 | 1.53 billion current USD | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 1.46 billion current USD | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 1.76 billion current USD | +20.2% |
| 2011 | 1.94 billion current USD | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 1.95 billion current USD | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 1.95 billion current USD | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.99 billion current USD | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.73 billion current USD | -13.0% |
| 2016 | 1.92 billion current USD | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 2.15 billion current USD | +11.6% |
| 2018 | 2.30 billion current USD | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 2.73 billion current USD | +18.4% |
| 2020 | 2.81 billion current USD | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 2.91 billion current USD | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.83 billion current USD | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 3.03 billion current USD | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 3.00 billion current USD | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 2.86 billion current USD | -4.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2.86 billion current USD is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.32 billion current USD, 39% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2.86 billion current USD is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.97 billion current USD, 57% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 122.55 million current USD | 96.32 million current USD | 149.59 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 279.35 million current USD | 171.92 million current USD | 436.89 million current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 711.15 million current USD | 529.19 million current USD | 961.84 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.03 billion current USD | 866.79 million current USD | 1.24 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.20 billion current USD | 796.64 million current USD | 1.59 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.04 billion current USD | 1.73 billion current USD | 2.73 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.91 billion current USD | 2.81 billion current USD | 3.03 billion current USD | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More public sector data for New Zealand
- 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 200.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 37.81 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0008 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -50.62 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in New Zealand?
- Military expenditure in New Zealand was 2.86 billion current USD in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.03 billion current USD in 2023.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 96.32 million current USD in 1962.
- How does New Zealand rank for military expenditure?
- New Zealand ranks 58th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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)