Military expenditure (% of GDP) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 2.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in North Macedonia, 1996–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in North Macedonia stood at 2.0%.
The figure is up 11.3% on the previous year and up 97.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in North Macedonia peaked at 6.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2017.
That places North Macedonia 75th out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.8% | — |
| 1997 | 2.1% | -24.4% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | -18.3% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 6.1% | +229.6% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -56.6% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -11.5% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | -14.7% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -10.7% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | -18.1% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 1.2% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | +29.6% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | +18.1% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | +18.8% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 2.0% | +11.3% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 2.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 2.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.0%, 97% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of GDP) in North Macedonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +229.6% | 1.9% | 6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More public sector data for North Macedonia
- 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 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.5481 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 -80 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in North Macedonia?
- Military expenditure in North Macedonia was 2.0% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2017.
- How does North Macedonia rank for military expenditure?
- North Macedonia ranks 75th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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