Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Africa Western and Central, 1962–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Africa Western and Central is 1.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 84.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Africa Western and Central peaked at 6.3% in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1996.
Africa Western and Central ranks 36th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1.3% | — |
| 1963 | 1.3% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 1.4% | +9.8% |
| 1965 | 1.5% | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 1.4% | -6.9% |
| 1968 | 5.4% | +294.9% |
| 1969 | 6.3% | +16.1% |
| 1970 | 3.9% | -37.1% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | -21.2% |
| 1972 | 3.8% | +22.2% |
| 1973 | 3.7% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 3.3% | -11.2% |
| 1975 | 5.6% | +67.0% |
| 1976 | 4.3% | -22.6% |
| 1977 | 4.3% | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 3.8% | -11.3% |
| 1979 | 3.2% | -15.5% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | -22.6% |
| 1981 | 2.5% | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | -16.9% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -23.8% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | -18.4% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | -12.1% |
| 1990 | 1.1% | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | -22.9% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -33.1% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -15.9% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | +15.3% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | +53.2% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 1.0% | +25.2% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +7.1% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | -18.0% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | -19.8% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | +18.0% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | +11.1% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +20.5% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -13.3% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | +22.0% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | +28.0% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | -18.5% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | +23.2% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 1.2% | +4.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Africa Western and Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | +294.9% | 1.4% | 5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.7% | 1.3% | 6.3% | 7 |
| 1970s | 3.9% | 3.1% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More public sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Arms imports 163.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.6914 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0005 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -36.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 360.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 15.4 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0109 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate -14.98 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 8.02 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 62.46 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Africa Western and Central?
- Military expenditure in Africa Western and Central was 1.2% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 1969.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1996.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for military expenditure?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 36th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 84.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product