Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Cyprus
Cyprus: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Cyprus, 1985–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Cyprus is 1.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Cyprus peaked at 9.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1985.
Cyprus ranks 92nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Cyprus, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1.3% | — |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +24.2% |
| 1987 | 5.4% | +241.8% |
| 1988 | 5.7% | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 5.4% | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 7.4% | +37.3% |
| 1991 | 7.3% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 9.1% | +25.7% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | -55.4% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -24.4% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +48.8% |
| 1997 | 5.6% | +23.2% |
| 1998 | 4.7% | -16.1% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | -41.5% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -32.4% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -14.8% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +11.6% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | +11.6% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
Cyprus compared with similar countries
- Cyprus's 1.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 77% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Cyprus's 1.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.0%, 79% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Cyprus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +241.8% | 1.6% | 5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.9% | 1.3% | 5.7% | 5 |
| 1990s | 5.2% | 2.7% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.6% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cyprus
More public sector data for Cyprus
- 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 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 84.67 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0031 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -63.33 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Cyprus?
- Military expenditure in Cyprus was 1.6% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Cyprus?
- The highest recorded value was 9.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Cyprus?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1985.
- How does Cyprus rank for military expenditure?
- Cyprus ranks 92nd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Cyprus?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cyprus 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