Military expenditure in Viet Nam

Viet Nam: Military expenditure was 1.8% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
1.8%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
81st
of 165 countries
All-time high
7.9%
in 1990
All-time low
1.6%
in 2011
Years of data
24
1987–2018

Military expenditure in Viet Nam, 1987–2018

24681987200220181987: 4 % of GDP1988: 7.1 % of GDP1989: 7.3 % of GDP1990: 7.9 % of GDP1991: 5.6 % of GDP1992: 3.4 % of GDP1993: 2.3 % of GDP1994: 2.6 % of GDP2003: 2.1 % of GDP2004: 2 % of GDP2005: 1.8 % of GDP2006: 1.9 % of GDP2007: 2.3 % of GDP2008: 2.2 % of GDP2009: 2.3 % of GDP2010: 1.8 % of GDP2011: 1.6 % of GDP2012: 1.7 % of GDP2013: 1.7 % of GDP2014: 1.8 % of GDP2015: 1.9 % of GDP2016: 2 % of GDP2017: 1.8 % of GDP2018: 1.8 % of GDP

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

In 2018, military expenditure in Viet Nam stood at 1.8%.

That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Viet Nam peaked at 7.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2011.

That places Viet Nam 81st out of 165 countries with data for 2018, 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 Viet Nam, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Viet Nam, 1987 to 2018.
Year % of GDP Change
1987 4.0%
1988 7.1% +79.6%
1989 7.3% +2.6%
1990 7.9% +8.6%
1991 5.6% -29.3%
1992 3.4% -39.7%
1993 2.3% -33.1%
1994 2.6% +17.3%
2003 2.1% -19.7%
2004 2.0% -5.4%
2005 1.8% -11.6%
2006 1.9% +8.8%
2007 2.3% +18.9%
2008 2.2% -6.4%
2009 2.3% +5.0%
2010 1.8% -19.9%
2011 1.6% -14.3%
2012 1.7% +10.4%
2013 1.7% +1.5%
2014 1.8% +4.5%
2015 1.9% +4.6%
2016 2.0% +2.3%
2017 1.8% -7.5%
2018 1.8% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 6.1% 4.0% 7.3% 3
1990s 4.4% 2.3% 7.9% 5
2000s 2.1% 1.8% 2.3% 7
2010s 1.8% 1.6% 2.0% 9

Countries ranked near Viet Nam

  1. 78 Tajikistan 1.8% compare
  2. 79 Montenegro 1.8% compare
  3. 80 Afghanistan 1.8% compare
  4. 82 Croatia 1.8% compare
  5. 83 China 1.7% compare
  6. 84 Cyprus 1.6% compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More public sector data for Viet Nam

All data for Viet Nam →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Viet Nam?
Military expenditure in Viet Nam was 1.8% in 2018, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Viet Nam?
The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 1990.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Viet Nam?
The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2011.
How does Viet Nam rank for military expenditure?
Viet Nam ranks 81st out of 165 countries with data for 2018.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Viet Nam?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Viet Nam 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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Military expenditure in Viet Nam. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/viet-nam/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
210 places, 10,550 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product