Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Ghana
Ghana: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.5%
Change on year
up 36.6%
World rank
156th
of 167 countries
All-time high
2.7%
in 1968
All-time low
0.3%
in 2002
Years of data
65
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 0.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 36.6% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ghana peaked at 2.7% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2002.
Ghana ranks 156th of 167 countries 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.7% | — |
| 1961 | 2.1% | +23.2% |
| 1962 | 2.0% | -4.9% |
| 1963 | 2.0% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 1.9% | -4.7% |
| 1965 | 1.7% | -9.9% |
| 1966 | 2.2% | +28.5% |
| 1968 | 2.7% | +19.3% |
| 1969 | 2.5% | -5.8% |
| 1970 | 2.1% | -15.3% |
| 1971 | 1.7% | -19.7% |
| 1972 | 1.4% | -16.0% |
| 1973 | 1.4% | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 1.6% | +15.9% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | -8.6% |
| 1977 | 1.3% | -20.0% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | -32.1% |
| 1979 | 0.6% | -24.1% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | +19.7% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -4.2% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | -27.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | -37.0% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | +73.9% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +68.6% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | -10.0% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | -50.9% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -35.8% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | +33.4% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | +11.8% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -21.3% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | -14.5% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +16.2% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +33.0% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -40.4% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +41.2% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -20.6% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -16.1% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +53.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +36.3% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -32.5% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | +21.2% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -19.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -25.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +17.8% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -11.8% |
| 2025 | 0.5% | +36.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 0.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.5%, 33% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 0.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 37% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.6% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More public sector data for Ghana
- 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 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.3195 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 37.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Ghana?
- Military expenditure in Ghana was 0.5% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 1968.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2002.
- How does Ghana rank for military expenditure?
- Ghana ranks 156th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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