Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in European Union
European Union: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 4.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in European Union, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in European Union is 4.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.0% on the previous year and up 64.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in European Union peaked at 4.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2014.
That places European Union 38th out of 44 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4.9% | — |
| 1989 | 4.8% | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 4.5% | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 4.3% | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 4.0% | -6.9% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 3.5% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | +8.8% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | +13.2% |
| 2025 | 4.4% | +17.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.8% | 3.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 2.9% | 4.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More public sector data for European Union
- Arms imports 9.52 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 13.69 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 29.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 6.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 818.48 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0189 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 20.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 368.50 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 1,195 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in European Union?
- Military expenditure in European Union was 4.4% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2014.
- How does European Union rank for military expenditure?
- European Union ranks 38th out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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