Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Italy
Italy: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 3.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Italy, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
Italy recorded 3.7% for military expenditure in 2025.
The figure is up 18.5% on the previous year and up 59.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Italy peaked at 4.0% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2015.
That places Italy 124th out of 164 countries 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4.0% | — |
| 1989 | 3.8% | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 3.3% | -14.1% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -6.5% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 3.6% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +13.7% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +10.4% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +18.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 3.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 78% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Italy's 3.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.8%, 78% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More public sector data for Italy
- 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 566.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 7.33 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -10.93 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Italy?
- Military expenditure in Italy was 3.7% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 1988.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2015.
- How does Italy rank for military expenditure?
- Italy ranks 124th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy 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