Military expenditure (% of GDP) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 2.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2.4%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
53rd
of 167 countries
All-time high
7.1%
in 1960
All-time low
1.9%
in 2018
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in United Kingdom, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in United Kingdom stood at 2.4%.
That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in United Kingdom peaked at 7.1% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2018.
That places United Kingdom 53rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.1% | — |
| 1961 | 6.9% | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 6.9% | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 6.8% | -2.1% |
| 1964 | 6.6% | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 6.4% | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 6.2% | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 6.2% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 5.9% | -4.7% |
| 1969 | 5.5% | -7.4% |
| 1970 | 5.2% | -5.5% |
| 1971 | 5.1% | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 5.2% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 4.9% | -5.1% |
| 1974 | 5.1% | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 5.3% | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 5.2% | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 4.9% | -4.9% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 4.7% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 5.0% | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 5.0% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 5.4% | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 5.5% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 5.3% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | -4.9% |
| 1987 | 4.7% | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | -10.1% |
| 1989 | 4.0% | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 4.1% | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 3.9% | -6.1% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -16.1% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 2.6% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | +13.2% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | -3.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 2.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 2.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.0%, 1.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.5% | 5.5% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.0% | 4.0% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.4% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- 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 609.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 9.28 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 36.23 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in United Kingdom?
- Military expenditure in United Kingdom was 2.4% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 7.1% in 1960.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military expenditure?
- United Kingdom ranks 53rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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