Military expenditure (current USD) in Thailand
Thailand: Military expenditure was 5.52 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.52 billion current USD
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
43rd
of 168 countries
All-time high
7.30 billion current USD
in 2020
All-time low
58.74 million current USD
in 1961
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Thailand, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Thailand stood at 5.52 billion current USD.
That represents a change of down 3.9% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Thailand peaked at 7.30 billion current USD in 2020 and was at its lowest, 58.74 million current USD, in 1961.
Thailand ranks 43rd 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 62.83 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 58.74 million current USD | -6.5% |
| 1962 | 80.30 million current USD | +36.7% |
| 1963 | 85.50 million current USD | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 87.24 million current USD | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 94.27 million current USD | +8.1% |
| 1966 | 105.54 million current USD | +12.0% |
| 1967 | 126.35 million current USD | +19.7% |
| 1968 | 154.64 million current USD | +22.4% |
| 1969 | 184.90 million current USD | +19.6% |
| 1970 | 217.22 million current USD | +17.5% |
| 1971 | 262.66 million current USD | +20.9% |
| 1972 | 284.09 million current USD | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 312.41 million current USD | +10.0% |
| 1974 | 363.89 million current USD | +16.5% |
| 1975 | 416.04 million current USD | +14.3% |
| 1976 | 531.91 million current USD | +27.9% |
| 1977 | 688.72 million current USD | +29.5% |
| 1978 | 942.01 million current USD | +36.8% |
| 1979 | 1.20 billion current USD | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 1.37 billion current USD | +14.5% |
| 1981 | 1.42 billion current USD | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 1.51 billion current USD | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 1.58 billion current USD | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 1.70 billion current USD | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 1.63 billion current USD | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 1.64 billion current USD | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 1.70 billion current USD | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 1.81 billion current USD | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 1.94 billion current USD | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 2.21 billion current USD | +14.1% |
| 1991 | 2.60 billion current USD | +17.4% |
| 1992 | 2.96 billion current USD | +14.0% |
| 1993 | 3.16 billion current USD | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 3.61 billion current USD | +14.4% |
| 1995 | 3.85 billion current USD | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 3.94 billion current USD | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.26 billion current USD | -17.1% |
| 1998 | 2.11 billion current USD | -35.4% |
| 1999 | 2.06 billion current USD | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 1.88 billion current USD | -8.6% |
| 2001 | 1.72 billion current USD | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 1.78 billion current USD | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 1.88 billion current USD | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 1.95 billion current USD | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 1.87 billion current USD | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 2.11 billion current USD | +12.9% |
| 2007 | 2.68 billion current USD | +27.2% |
| 2008 | 3.65 billion current USD | +36.2% |
| 2009 | 4.34 billion current USD | +18.9% |
| 2010 | 5.19 billion current USD | +19.7% |
| 2011 | 5.16 billion current USD | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 5.41 billion current USD | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 5.56 billion current USD | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 5.58 billion current USD | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 5.43 billion current USD | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 5.56 billion current USD | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 6.11 billion current USD | +9.9% |
| 2018 | 6.66 billion current USD | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 7.09 billion current USD | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 7.30 billion current USD | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 7.12 billion current USD | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 6.03 billion current USD | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 5.75 billion current USD | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 5.52 billion current USD | -3.9% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 5.52 billion current USD is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.38 billion current USD, 4.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 5.52 billion current USD is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.66 billion current USD, 1.2× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 104.03 million current USD | 58.74 million current USD | 184.90 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 521.80 million current USD | 217.22 million current USD | 1.20 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.63 billion current USD | 1.37 billion current USD | 1.94 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.98 billion current USD | 2.06 billion current USD | 3.94 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.39 billion current USD | 1.72 billion current USD | 4.34 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.78 billion current USD | 5.16 billion current USD | 7.09 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.34 billion current USD | 5.52 billion current USD | 7.30 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More public sector data for Thailand
- 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 3 (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 Thailand?
- Military expenditure in Thailand was 5.52 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 7.30 billion current USD in 2020.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.74 million current USD in 1961.
- How does Thailand rank for military expenditure?
- Thailand ranks 43rd out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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)