Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Gambia
Gambia: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 2.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Military expenditure in Gambia, 2000–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Gambia stood at 2.2%.
The figure is down 9.1% on the previous year and down 57.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Gambia peaked at 9.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2004.
Gambia ranks 148th of 164 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.5% | — |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -26.7% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | +17.2% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | -14.0% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | -36.3% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +38.3% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -16.0% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +68.4% |
| 2008 | 9.5% | +199.7% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | -64.2% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +21.2% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 6.3% | +42.4% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -17.6% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | -29.9% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +11.9% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -20.5% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -12.0% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -4.6% |
| 2025 | 2.2% | -9.1% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 2.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.3%, 24% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 2.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9%, 37% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Gambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +199.7% | 3.2% | 9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.3% | 1.6% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 3.3% | 6.3% | 6 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 145 Cape Verde 2.3% compare
- 146 Brazil 2.2% compare
- 147 South Africa 2.2% compare
- 149 Kazakhstan 2.1% compare
- 150 Nicaragua 2.0% compare
- 151 Austria 2.0% compare
More public sector data for Gambia
- 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 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 0 SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Gambia?
- Military expenditure in Gambia was 2.2% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 2008.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2004.
- How does Gambia rank for military expenditure?
- Gambia ranks 148th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Gambia 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