Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Rwanda, 1973–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Rwanda is 1.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 6.0% 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 111th 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 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% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | +4.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 1.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.8%, 70% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 1.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 99% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +776.7% | 0.6% | 5.3% |
| 1990 | +112.6% | 1.8% | 3.7% |
| 1995 | -82.3% | 3.4% | 0.6% |
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 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More public sector data for Rwanda
- 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 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Rwanda?
- Military expenditure in Rwanda was 1.3% in 2025, 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 111th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. 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