Military expenditure in New Zealand
New Zealand: Military expenditure was 3.00 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.00 billion current USD
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
55th
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
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in New Zealand, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in New Zealand is 3.00 billion current USD, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 50.3% 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 55th 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 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 | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 3.03 billion current USD | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 3.00 billion current USD | -1.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 3.00 billion current USD is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 45% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 3.00 billion current USD is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.66 billion current USD, 64% 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 | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 52 Argentina 4.18 billion current USD compare
- 53 Bangladesh 4.03 billion current USD compare
- 54 Azerbaijan 3.78 billion current USD compare
- 56 Slovakia 2.85 billion current USD compare
- 57 South Africa 2.84 billion current USD compare
- 58 Ecuador 2.70 billion current USD compare
More public sector data for New Zealand
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Democracy 7 (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 New Zealand?
- Military expenditure in New Zealand was 3.00 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 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 55th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.3%. 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)