Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Namibia
Namibia: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 2.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
2.8%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
41st
of 167 countries
All-time high
6.4%
in 1990
All-time low
1.8%
in 1994
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Military expenditure in Namibia, 1990–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Namibia is 2.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 38.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Namibia peaked at 6.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1994.
Namibia ranks 41st of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.4% | — |
| 1991 | 5.6% | -12.5% |
| 1992 | 4.3% | -24.3% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | -42.0% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | -28.9% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +20.9% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | +34.5% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -13.4% |
| 2001 | 3.0% | +11.2% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -13.0% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +20.2% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | -11.4% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 4.3% | +34.9% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 4.0% | -12.3% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | +0.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 2.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.5%, 1.9× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 2.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 2.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.2% | 1.8% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More public sector data for Namibia
- 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 0 SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 17.82 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.004 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -77.78 % change on previous year (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Namibia?
- Military expenditure in Namibia was 2.8% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1994.
- How does Namibia rank for military expenditure?
- Namibia ranks 41st out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Namibia 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