Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 2.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Military expenditure in Central African Republic, 1991–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Central African Republic is 2.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.4% on the previous year and up 48.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Central African Republic peaked at 2.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2002.
Central African Republic ranks 54th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.6% | — |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 1.5% | -8.8% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -16.1% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | -7.1% |
| 1996 | 1.2% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | -10.2% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | +16.3% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | +42.3% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +12.8% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +37.9% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -15.0% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -16.9% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | +66.4% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -28.4% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -22.4% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -8.8% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +33.6% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | +15.6% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | -20.4% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | +38.9% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | +9.4% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | -10.4% |
Central African Republic compared with similar countries
- Central African Republic's 2.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.8%, 1.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Central African Republic's 2.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.3% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
More public sector data for Central African Republic
- 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)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 8.35 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0168 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -95.45 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Central African Republic?
- Military expenditure in Central African Republic was 2.3% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2002.
- How does Central African Republic rank for military expenditure?
- Central African Republic ranks 54th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Central African Republic 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