Military expenditure in World

World: Military expenditure was 2.65 trillion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
2.65 trillion current USD
Change on year
up 11.2%
Rank
1st
of 44 groups
All-time high
2.65 trillion current USD
in 2024
All-time low
262.11 billion current USD
in 1977
Years of data
48
1977–2024

Military expenditure in World, 1977–2024

500.0B1.0T1.5T2.0T2.5T197720002024

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military expenditure in World is 2.65 trillion current USD, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.

The figure is up 11.2% on the previous year and up 51.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in World peaked at 2.65 trillion current USD in 2024 and was at its lowest, 262.11 billion current USD, in 1977.

That places World 1st out of 44 groups 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 World, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (current USD) in World, 1977 to 2024.
Year current USD Change
1977 262.11 billion current USD
1978 288.73 billion current USD +10.2%
1979 319.15 billion current USD +10.5%
1980 366.13 billion current USD +14.7%
1981 403.92 billion current USD +10.3%
1982 447.92 billion current USD +10.9%
1983 441.83 billion current USD -1.4%
1984 459.63 billion current USD +4.0%
1985 486.46 billion current USD +5.8%
1986 531.39 billion current USD +9.2%
1987 599.55 billion current USD +12.8%
1988 638.08 billion current USD +6.4%
1989 657.86 billion current USD +3.1%
1990 712.26 billion current USD +8.3%
1991 697.24 billion current USD -2.1%
1992 728.46 billion current USD +4.5%
1993 697.14 billion current USD -4.3%
1994 706.87 billion current USD +1.4%
1995 724.85 billion current USD +2.5%
1996 722.15 billion current USD -0.4%
1997 724.25 billion current USD +0.3%
1998 706.13 billion current USD -2.5%
1999 719.01 billion current USD +1.8%
2000 742.38 billion current USD +3.3%
2001 754.88 billion current USD +1.7%
2002 815.21 billion current USD +8.0%
2003 952.06 billion current USD +16.8%
2004 1.08 trillion current USD +12.9%
2005 1.16 trillion current USD +8.3%
2006 1.21 trillion current USD +3.5%
2007 1.34 trillion current USD +10.9%
2008 1.51 trillion current USD +12.9%
2009 1.56 trillion current USD +3.6%
2010 1.65 trillion current USD +5.4%
2011 1.75 trillion current USD +6.1%
2012 1.76 trillion current USD +0.4%
2013 1.76 trillion current USD -0.2%
2014 1.75 trillion current USD -0.0%
2015 1.65 trillion current USD -5.9%
2016 1.65 trillion current USD -0.3%
2017 1.72 trillion current USD +4.2%
2018 1.81 trillion current USD +5.3%
2019 1.86 trillion current USD +2.8%
2020 1.93 trillion current USD +4.1%
2021 2.07 trillion current USD +7.2%
2022 2.20 trillion current USD +6.3%
2023 2.39 trillion current USD +8.3%
2024 2.65 trillion current USD +11.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 290.00 billion current USD 262.11 billion current USD 319.15 billion current USD 3
1980s 503.28 billion current USD 366.13 billion current USD 657.86 billion current USD 10
1990s 713.84 billion current USD 697.14 billion current USD 728.46 billion current USD 10
2000s 1.11 trillion current USD 742.38 billion current USD 1.56 trillion current USD 10
2010s 1.73 trillion current USD 1.65 trillion current USD 1.86 trillion current USD 10
2020s 2.25 trillion current USD 1.93 trillion current USD 2.65 trillion current USD 5

Countries ranked near World

  1. 1 United States 997.31 billion current USD compare
  2. 2 China 313.66 billion current USD compare
  3. 3 Russia 148.97 billion current USD compare
  4. 4 Germany 88.46 billion current USD compare

See the full ranking of 212 places →

More public sector data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in World?
Military expenditure in World was 2.65 trillion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What is the highest military expenditure recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 2.65 trillion current USD in 2024.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 262.11 billion current USD in 1977.
How does World rank for military expenditure?
World ranks 1st out of 44 groups with data for 2024.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this World 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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Military expenditure in World. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-current-usd/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (current USD)
Unit
current USD
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
212 places, 10,618 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)