Military expenditure in France
France: Military expenditure was 3.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in France, 1988–2024
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 France is 3.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in France peaked at 5.8% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2013.
France ranks 121st of 161 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Military expenditure in France, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5.8% | — |
| 1989 | 5.7% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 5.5% | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 5.4% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 3.7% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | +4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 4.1% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
- 118 Guyana 3.7% compare
- 119 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 3.7% compare
- 120 Côte d'Ivoire 3.7% compare
- 122 Portugal 3.6% compare
- 123 Malawi 3.5% compare
- 124 Seychelles 3.4% compare
More public sector data for France
- Arms imports 188.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 2.74 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 56.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 188.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 943.45 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0205 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 8.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 64.67 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 222.66 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in France?
- Military expenditure in France was 3.6% in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 1988.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2013.
- How does France rank for military expenditure?
- France ranks 121st out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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