Military expenditure in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Military expenditure was 105.26 million current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
105.26 million current USD
Change on year
up 6.8%
World rank
146th
of 168 countries
All-time high
1.14 billion current USD
in 1990
All-time low
6.89 million current USD
in 1968
Years of data
49
1968–2024
Military expenditure in Nicaragua, 1968–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Nicaragua stood at 105.26 million current USD.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Nicaragua peaked at 1.14 billion current USD in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.89 million current USD, in 1968.
Nicaragua ranks 146th of 168 countries 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 6.89 million current USD | — |
| 1969 | 6.99 million current USD | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 8.35 million current USD | +19.4% |
| 1971 | 8.44 million current USD | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 10.97 million current USD | +29.9% |
| 1973 | 10.43 million current USD | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 15.00 million current USD | +43.7% |
| 1975 | 18.54 million current USD | +23.6% |
| 1976 | 25.23 million current USD | +36.1% |
| 1977 | 35.23 million current USD | +39.6% |
| 1978 | 44.55 million current USD | +26.4% |
| 1979 | 32.28 million current USD | -27.5% |
| 1980 | 47.16 million current USD | +46.1% |
| 1981 | 71.93 million current USD | +52.5% |
| 1990 | 1.14 billion current USD | +1488.4% |
| 1991 | 67.67 million current USD | -94.1% |
| 1992 | 47.20 million current USD | -30.2% |
| 1993 | 40.21 million current USD | -14.8% |
| 1994 | 35.40 million current USD | -12.0% |
| 1995 | 35.12 million current USD | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 31.53 million current USD | -10.2% |
| 1997 | 30.27 million current USD | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 26.27 million current USD | -13.2% |
| 1999 | 26.93 million current USD | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 30.83 million current USD | +14.5% |
| 2001 | 28.19 million current USD | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 34.83 million current USD | +23.5% |
| 2003 | 35.31 million current USD | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 32.63 million current USD | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 34.12 million current USD | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 37.29 million current USD | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 39.47 million current USD | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 42.66 million current USD | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 41.72 million current USD | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 44.27 million current USD | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 51.45 million current USD | +16.2% |
| 2012 | 70.13 million current USD | +36.3% |
| 2013 | 74.53 million current USD | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 81.39 million current USD | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 98.93 million current USD | +21.6% |
| 2016 | 85.07 million current USD | -14.0% |
| 2017 | 86.73 million current USD | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 81.59 million current USD | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 76.93 million current USD | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 79.34 million current USD | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 77.92 million current USD | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 84.21 million current USD | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 98.59 million current USD | +17.1% |
| 2024 | 105.26 million current USD | +6.8% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 105.26 million current USD is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 493.99 million current USD, 21% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 105.26 million current USD is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 420.19 million current USD, 25% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure in Nicaragua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +1488.4% | 71.93 million current USD | 1.14 billion current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.94 million current USD | 6.89 million current USD | 6.99 million current USD | 2 |
| 1970s | 20.90 million current USD | 8.35 million current USD | 44.55 million current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 59.54 million current USD | 47.16 million current USD | 71.93 million current USD | 2 |
| 1990s | 148.31 million current USD | 26.27 million current USD | 1.14 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.70 million current USD | 28.19 million current USD | 42.66 million current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.10 million current USD | 44.27 million current USD | 98.93 million current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 89.07 million current USD | 77.92 million current USD | 105.26 million current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More public sector data for Nicaragua
- 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 1 (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 Nicaragua?
- Military expenditure in Nicaragua was 105.26 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 1.14 billion current USD in 1990.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.89 million current USD in 1968.
- How does Nicaragua rank for military expenditure?
- Nicaragua ranks 146th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)