Military expenditure in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Military expenditure was 6.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6.9%
Change on year
down 15.3%
World rank
57th
of 161 countries
All-time high
36.2%
in 1999
All-time low
3.8%
in 2017
Years of data
37
1988–2024

Military expenditure in Ethiopia, 1988–2024

0102030401988200620241988: 26 % of general government expenditure1989: 28.2 % of general government expenditure1990: 30.8 % of general government expenditure1991: 22.6 % of general government expenditure1992: 17 % of general government expenditure1993: 15.7 % of general government expenditure1994: 11.5 % of general government expenditure1995: 9 % of general government expenditure1996: 7.9 % of general government expenditure1997: 15.1 % of general government expenditure1998: 28.8 % of general government expenditure1999: 36.2 % of general government expenditure2000: 29.5 % of general government expenditure2001: 19.2 % of general government expenditure2002: 14.8 % of general government expenditure2003: 12 % of general government expenditure2004: 13.3 % of general government expenditure2005: 12.1 % of general government expenditure2006: 10.3 % of general government expenditure2007: 9.1 % of general government expenditure2008: 7.9 % of general government expenditure2009: 6.9 % of general government expenditure2010: 6.1 % of general government expenditure2011: 6 % of general government expenditure2012: 5.2 % of general government expenditure2013: 4.5 % of general government expenditure2014: 4.4 % of general government expenditure2015: 4.1 % of general government expenditure2016: 3.8 % of general government expenditure2017: 3.8 % of general government expenditure2018: 4 % of general government expenditure2019: 3.8 % of general government expenditure2020: 5.4 % of general government expenditure2021: 11.7 % of general government expenditure2022: 11.9 % of general government expenditure2023: 8.2 % of general government expenditure2024: 6.9 % of general government expenditure

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

Analysis

In 2024, military expenditure in Ethiopia stood at 6.9%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.3% on the previous year and up 57.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ethiopia peaked at 36.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2017.

Ethiopia ranks 57th of 161 countries on this measure, 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 Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Ethiopia, 1988 to 2024.
Year % of general government expenditure Change
1988 26.0%
1989 28.2% +8.5%
1990 30.8% +9.0%
1991 22.6% -26.6%
1992 17.0% -24.6%
1993 15.7% -7.8%
1994 11.5% -27.0%
1995 9.0% -21.4%
1996 7.9% -12.5%
1997 15.1% +91.6%
1998 28.8% +90.8%
1999 36.2% +25.6%
2000 29.5% -18.3%
2001 19.2% -34.9%
2002 14.8% -22.8%
2003 12.0% -19.3%
2004 13.3% +10.8%
2005 12.1% -9.1%
2006 10.3% -14.9%
2007 9.1% -11.6%
2008 7.9% -12.5%
2009 6.9% -12.8%
2010 6.1% -11.4%
2011 6.0% -2.4%
2012 5.2% -12.8%
2013 4.5% -12.9%
2014 4.4% -3.2%
2015 4.1% -7.4%
2016 3.8% -6.3%
2017 3.8% -1.6%
2018 4.0% +6.8%
2019 3.8% -5.8%
2020 5.4% +42.9%
2021 11.7% +116.1%
2022 11.9% +1.7%
2023 8.2% -31.2%
2024 6.9% -15.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 27.1% 26.0% 28.2% 2
1990s 19.4% 7.9% 36.2% 10
2000s 13.5% 6.9% 29.5% 10
2010s 4.6% 3.8% 6.1% 10
2020s 8.8% 5.4% 11.9% 5

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 54 Sri Lanka 7.3% compare
  2. 55 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 7.1% compare
  3. 56 Namibia 7.1% compare
  4. 58 Bangladesh 6.9% compare
  5. 59 Uruguay 6.8% compare
  6. 60 Albania 6.6% compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More public sector data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Ethiopia?
Military expenditure in Ethiopia was 6.9% in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 36.2% in 1999.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2017.
How does Ethiopia rank for military expenditure?
Ethiopia ranks 57th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 57.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia 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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Military expenditure in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-percent-of-general-government-expenditure/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure)
Unit
% of general government expenditure
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
204 places, 5,828 data points, 1988–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure