Military expenditure (current USD) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military expenditure was 81.76 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
81.76 billion current USD
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
6th
of 168 countries
All-time high
81.76 billion current USD
in 2024
All-time low
5.13 billion current USD
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 81.76 billion current USD, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.6% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in United Kingdom peaked at 81.76 billion current USD in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.13 billion current USD, in 1960.
That places United Kingdom 6th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.13 billion current USD | — |
| 1961 | 5.31 billion current USD | +3.5% |
| 1962 | 5.60 billion current USD | +5.4% |
| 1963 | 5.81 billion current USD | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 6.16 billion current USD | +6.0% |
| 1965 | 6.48 billion current USD | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 6.69 billion current USD | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 6.93 billion current USD | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 6.22 billion current USD | -10.3% |
| 1969 | 6.20 billion current USD | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 6.79 billion current USD | +9.6% |
| 1971 | 7.52 billion current USD | +10.7% |
| 1972 | 8.79 billion current USD | +16.9% |
| 1973 | 9.45 billion current USD | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 10.45 billion current USD | +10.6% |
| 1975 | 12.91 billion current USD | +23.5% |
| 1976 | 12.04 billion current USD | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 12.95 billion current USD | +7.6% |
| 1978 | 15.90 billion current USD | +22.7% |
| 1979 | 20.54 billion current USD | +29.2% |
| 1980 | 28.36 billion current USD | +38.0% |
| 1981 | 26.95 billion current USD | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 27.71 billion current USD | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 26.42 billion current USD | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 25.42 billion current USD | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 26.03 billion current USD | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 30.43 billion current USD | +16.9% |
| 1987 | 34.92 billion current USD | +14.8% |
| 1988 | 38.36 billion current USD | +9.8% |
| 1989 | 37.46 billion current USD | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 43.55 billion current USD | +16.3% |
| 1991 | 47.05 billion current USD | +8.0% |
| 1992 | 45.59 billion current USD | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 38.11 billion current USD | -16.4% |
| 1994 | 38.57 billion current USD | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 38.29 billion current USD | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 38.57 billion current USD | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 39.89 billion current USD | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 41.22 billion current USD | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 40.76 billion current USD | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 39.34 billion current USD | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 39.51 billion current USD | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 44.25 billion current USD | +12.0% |
| 2003 | 52.34 billion current USD | +18.3% |
| 2004 | 60.25 billion current USD | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 61.65 billion current USD | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 64.22 billion current USD | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 73.45 billion current USD | +14.4% |
| 2008 | 72.92 billion current USD | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 64.01 billion current USD | -12.2% |
| 2010 | 63.98 billion current USD | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 66.57 billion current USD | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 65.45 billion current USD | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 63.84 billion current USD | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 67.00 billion current USD | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 59.99 billion current USD | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 53.33 billion current USD | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 52.08 billion current USD | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 55.83 billion current USD | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 56.57 billion current USD | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 58.33 billion current USD | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 65.15 billion current USD | +11.7% |
| 2022 | 64.07 billion current USD | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 75.30 billion current USD | +17.5% |
| 2024 | 81.76 billion current USD | +8.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 81.76 billion current USD is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 12.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 81.76 billion current USD is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 billion current USD, 31.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.05 billion current USD | 5.13 billion current USD | 6.93 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.73 billion current USD | 6.79 billion current USD | 20.54 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.21 billion current USD | 25.42 billion current USD | 38.36 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.16 billion current USD | 38.11 billion current USD | 47.05 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.19 billion current USD | 39.34 billion current USD | 73.45 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.46 billion current USD | 52.08 billion current USD | 67.00 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.92 billion current USD | 58.33 billion current USD | 81.76 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- 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)
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- 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 United Kingdom?
- Military expenditure in United Kingdom was 81.76 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 81.76 billion current USD in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.13 billion current USD in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military expenditure?
- United Kingdom ranks 6th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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)