Military expenditure (current USD) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Military expenditure was 1.33 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.33 billion current USD
Change on year
up 14.4%
World rank
78th
of 168 countries
All-time high
2.06 billion current USD
in 2015
All-time low
13.92 million current USD
in 1963
Years of data
64
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 1.33 billion current USD, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.4% on the previous year and down 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.06 billion current USD in 2015 and was at its lowest, 13.92 million current USD, in 1963.
That places Sri Lanka 78th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.65 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 17.08 million current USD | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 15.85 million current USD | -7.2% |
| 1963 | 13.92 million current USD | -12.2% |
| 1964 | 13.94 million current USD | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 14.47 million current USD | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 15.28 million current USD | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 15.71 million current USD | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 14.31 million current USD | -9.0% |
| 1969 | 15.86 million current USD | +10.9% |
| 1970 | 21.04 million current USD | +32.6% |
| 1971 | 32.26 million current USD | +53.3% |
| 1973 | 25.15 million current USD | -22.0% |
| 1974 | 28.42 million current USD | +13.0% |
| 1975 | 30.48 million current USD | +7.3% |
| 1976 | 23.67 million current USD | -22.3% |
| 1977 | 28.08 million current USD | +18.6% |
| 1978 | 21.95 million current USD | -21.8% |
| 1979 | 28.07 million current USD | +27.9% |
| 1980 | 30.81 million current USD | +9.8% |
| 1981 | 27.68 million current USD | -10.1% |
| 1982 | 25.97 million current USD | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 45.95 million current USD | +76.9% |
| 1984 | 55.75 million current USD | +21.3% |
| 1985 | 188.95 million current USD | +238.9% |
| 1986 | 172.74 million current USD | -8.6% |
| 1987 | 226.70 million current USD | +31.2% |
| 1988 | 165.49 million current USD | -27.0% |
| 1989 | 125.68 million current USD | -24.1% |
| 1990 | 187.02 million current USD | +48.8% |
| 1991 | 277.39 million current USD | +48.3% |
| 1992 | 326.76 million current USD | +17.8% |
| 1993 | 354.79 million current USD | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 437.03 million current USD | +23.2% |
| 1995 | 763.66 million current USD | +74.7% |
| 1996 | 767.11 million current USD | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 698.79 million current USD | -8.9% |
| 1998 | 733.44 million current USD | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 631.01 million current USD | -14.0% |
| 2000 | 822.13 million current USD | +30.3% |
| 2001 | 675.02 million current USD | -17.9% |
| 2002 | 571.66 million current USD | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 541.70 million current USD | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 619.30 million current USD | +14.3% |
| 2005 | 644.21 million current USD | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 791.49 million current USD | +22.9% |
| 2007 | 1.05 billion current USD | +33.3% |
| 2008 | 1.51 billion current USD | +43.3% |
| 2009 | 1.52 billion current USD | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.53 billion current USD | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 1.75 billion current USD | +14.4% |
| 2012 | 1.47 billion current USD | -15.9% |
| 2013 | 1.60 billion current USD | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 1.91 billion current USD | +19.6% |
| 2015 | 2.06 billion current USD | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 1.74 billion current USD | -15.4% |
| 2017 | 1.87 billion current USD | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 1.64 billion current USD | -12.2% |
| 2019 | 1.56 billion current USD | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 1.49 billion current USD | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 1.54 billion current USD | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 1.00 billion current USD | -34.9% |
| 2023 | 1.17 billion current USD | +16.4% |
| 2024 | 1.33 billion current USD | +14.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.33 billion current USD is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.38 billion current USD, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +238.9% | 55.75 million current USD | 188.95 million current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.31 million current USD | 13.92 million current USD | 17.08 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 26.57 million current USD | 21.04 million current USD | 32.26 million current USD | 9 |
| 1980s | 106.57 million current USD | 25.97 million current USD | 226.70 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 517.70 million current USD | 187.02 million current USD | 767.11 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 875.39 million current USD | 541.70 million current USD | 1.52 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.71 billion current USD | 1.47 billion current USD | 2.06 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.31 billion current USD | 1.00 billion current USD | 1.54 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More public sector data for Sri Lanka
- 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 6 (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 Sri Lanka?
- Military expenditure in Sri Lanka was 1.33 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.06 billion current USD in 2015.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.92 million current USD in 1963.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for military expenditure?
- Sri Lanka ranks 78th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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)