Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in France
France: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 3.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in France, 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 France is 3.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 8.9% 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 129th of 164 countries on this measure, 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 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 | 3.5% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 3.5% | +0.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 3.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 74% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- France's 3.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.8%, 73% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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% | 3.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More public sector data for France
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 236.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in France?
- Military expenditure in France was 3.5% in 2025, 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 129th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. 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