Military expenditure (current USD) in World
World: Military expenditure (current USD) was 2.86 trillion current USD in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.86 trillion current USD
Change on year
up 7.1%
Rank
1st
of 44 groups
All-time high
2.86 trillion current USD
in 2025
All-time low
365.99 billion current USD
in 1980
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Military expenditure in World, 1977–2025
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 2.86 trillion current USD, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 7.1% on the previous year and up 72.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in World peaked at 2.86 trillion current USD in 2025 and was at its lowest, 365.99 billion current USD, in 1980.
That places World 1st out of 44 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current USD) in World, year by year
| 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 | 365.99 billion current USD | +14.7% |
| 1981 | 403.76 billion current USD | +10.3% |
| 1982 | 447.92 billion current USD | +10.9% |
| 1983 | 441.83 billion current USD | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 459.64 billion current USD | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 486.47 billion current USD | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 531.40 billion current USD | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 599.84 billion current USD | +12.9% |
| 1988 | 638.36 billion current USD | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 658.02 billion current USD | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 712.52 billion current USD | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 697.60 billion current USD | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 728.75 billion current USD | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 697.41 billion current USD | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 707.39 billion current USD | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 725.82 billion current USD | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 723.94 billion current USD | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 724.25 billion current USD | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 706.43 billion current USD | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 720.02 billion current USD | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 742.25 billion current USD | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 754.67 billion current USD | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 815.47 billion current USD | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 952.17 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 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 1.76 trillion current USD | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 1.76 trillion current USD | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.65 trillion current USD | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 1.65 trillion current USD | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.72 trillion current USD | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 1.80 trillion current USD | +5.2% |
| 2019 | 1.86 trillion current USD | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 1.94 trillion current USD | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 2.08 trillion current USD | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 2.21 trillion current USD | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 2.39 trillion current USD | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 2.67 trillion current USD | +11.6% |
| 2025 | 2.86 trillion current USD | +7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 290.00 billion current USD | 262.11 billion current USD | 319.15 billion current USD | 3 |
| 1980s | 503.32 billion current USD | 365.99 billion current USD | 658.02 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 714.41 billion current USD | 697.41 billion current USD | 728.75 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.11 trillion current USD | 742.25 billion current USD | 1.56 trillion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.74 trillion current USD | 1.65 trillion current USD | 1.86 trillion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.36 trillion current USD | 1.94 trillion current USD | 2.86 trillion current USD | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
More public sector data for World
- Arms imports 33.33 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.54 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -2.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 28.82 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 325.74 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0237 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 11.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 2.65 trillion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 228.6 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in World?
- Military expenditure in World was 2.86 trillion current USD in 2025, 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 2.86 trillion current USD in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 365.99 billion current USD in 1980.
- How does World rank for military expenditure?
- World ranks 1st out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.8%. 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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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)