Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 10.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Afghanistan, 2004–2021
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 10.3% for military expenditure in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.3% on the previous year and down 46.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Afghanistan peaked at 16.1% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2017.
That places Afghanistan 87th out of 164 countries with data for 2021, 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 general government expenditure) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 16.1% | — |
| 2005 | 12.7% | -21.1% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | -18.4% |
| 2007 | 12.0% | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 11.2% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | -11.7% |
| 2010 | 9.4% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -11.3% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -43.4% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | +18.5% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | +14.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +16.3% |
| 2021 | 10.3% | +106.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 10.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.3%, 54% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 10.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.3%, 40% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.0% | 9.9% | 16.1% | 6 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 3.7% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 5.0% | 10.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More public sector data for Afghanistan
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- 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 -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Arms imports 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 1.62 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0046 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -71.86 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Afghanistan?
- Military expenditure in Afghanistan was 10.3% in 2021, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 16.1% in 2004.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2017.
- How does Afghanistan rank for military expenditure?
- Afghanistan ranks 87th out of 164 countries with data for 2021.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure