Military expenditure (% of GDP) in European Union
European Union: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 2.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2.2%
Change on year
up 18.0%
Rank
18th
of 45 groups
All-time high
3.9%
in 1963
All-time low
1.3%
in 2015
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in European Union, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in European Union is 2.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.0% on the previous year and up 67.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in European Union peaked at 3.9% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2015.
That places European Union 18th out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.7% | — |
| 1961 | 3.7% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 3.9% | +7.3% |
| 1963 | 3.9% | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 3.7% | -5.6% |
| 1965 | 3.6% | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 3.5% | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3.3% | -6.2% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | -5.1% |
| 1970 | 2.9% | -8.5% |
| 1971 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | -3.3% |
| 1974 | 2.8% | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 2.8% | -2.7% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 2.8% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 2.7% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 2.8% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 2.8% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 2.8% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 2.6% | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 2.5% | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 2.4% | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 1.5% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.3% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +11.7% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | +12.9% |
| 2025 | 2.2% | +18.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More public sector data for European Union
- Arms imports 9.52 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 13.69 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 29.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 6.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 818.48 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0189 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 20.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 368.50 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 1,195 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in European Union?
- Military expenditure in European Union was 2.2% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 1963.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2015.
- How does European Union rank for military expenditure?
- European Union ranks 18th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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