Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Mali
Mali: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 3.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3.9%
Change on year
down 8.8%
World rank
18th
of 167 countries
All-time high
4.2%
in 2024
All-time low
1.2%
in 2013
Years of data
63
1961–2025
Military expenditure in Mali, 1961–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Mali is 3.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.8% on the previous year and up 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Mali peaked at 4.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2013.
That places Mali 18th out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Mali, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.7% | — |
| 1962 | 2.9% | +7.0% |
| 1963 | 2.6% | -8.5% |
| 1964 | 2.9% | +8.4% |
| 1965 | 2.5% | -12.2% |
| 1966 | 2.4% | -4.4% |
| 1967 | 2.4% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 2.0% | -17.2% |
| 1969 | 2.2% | +9.3% |
| 1970 | 2.2% | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 1.9% | -14.0% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | +24.0% |
| 1973 | 2.7% | +11.8% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | +7.9% |
| 1975 | 3.2% | +10.5% |
| 1976 | 2.9% | -8.0% |
| 1977 | 3.1% | +7.5% |
| 1978 | 3.2% | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | -7.7% |
| 1980 | 2.1% | -29.9% |
| 1981 | 2.0% | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 2.0% | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 2.0% | -5.4% |
| 1987 | 2.1% | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 2.2% | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 2.1% | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | -20.1% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | -9.7% |
| 2012 | 1.2% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | +30.5% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +55.7% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | +23.5% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | +24.4% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +10.5% |
| 2025 | 3.9% | -8.8% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 3.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.8%, 2.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Mali's 3.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 3.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.7% | 1.9% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.2% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More public sector data for Mali
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2020)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2020)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2020)
- 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 -100 % change on previous year (2020)
- Arms imports 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4085 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0004 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -87.8 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Mali?
- Military expenditure in Mali was 3.9% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 4.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2013.
- How does Mali rank for military expenditure?
- Mali ranks 18th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mali 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