Military expenditure in Rwanda
Rwanda: Military expenditure was 1.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.2%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
107th
of 164 countries
All-time high
5.5%
in 1991
All-time low
0.6%
in 1995
Years of data
52
1973–2024
Military expenditure in Rwanda, 1973–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Rwanda is 1.2%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Rwanda peaked at 5.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1995.
That places Rwanda 107th out of 164 countries with data for 2024, 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 in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1.9% | — |
| 1974 | 1.5% | -21.9% |
| 1975 | 1.6% | +10.7% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 2.2% | +33.4% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -26.2% |
| 1979 | 1.7% | +10.0% |
| 1980 | 1.9% | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 2.0% | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | -5.4% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -15.4% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 1.8% | +13.0% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +112.6% |
| 1991 | 5.5% | +47.7% |
| 1992 | 4.3% | -22.1% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -24.2% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -82.3% |
| 1996 | 5.3% | +776.7% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -21.7% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -20.5% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -10.2% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -19.7% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -19.4% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -16.9% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | +10.1% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +23.0% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 7 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 0.6% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 104 Slovenia 1.3% compare
- 105 Belgium 1.3% compare
- 106 Jamaica 1.3% compare
- 108 Guinea-Bissau 1.2% compare
- 109 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.2% compare
- 110 New Zealand 1.2% compare
More public sector data for Rwanda
- Arms imports 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 2.65 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0025 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 117.65 % change on previous year (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 12.34 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0116 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate -1.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 175.92 million current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 1,500 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Rwanda?
- Military expenditure in Rwanda was 1.2% in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1995.
- How does Rwanda rank for military expenditure?
- Rwanda ranks 107th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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