Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Japan
Japan: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 3.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3.8%
Change on year
up 10.3%
World rank
121st
of 164 countries
All-time high
3.8%
in 2025
All-time low
2.3%
in 2020
Years of data
38
1988–2025
Military expenditure in Japan, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Japan stood at 3.8%. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.3% on the previous year and up 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Japan peaked at 3.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2020.
Japan ranks 121st of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 3.0% | — |
| 1989 | 3.1% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | -12.6% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | +9.4% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +5.2% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | -14.2% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | +20.5% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +18.2% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | +10.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 3.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 80% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Japan's 3.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 78% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More public sector data for Japan
- 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 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 7.88 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 2.09 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Japan?
- Military expenditure in Japan was 3.8% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2020.
- How does Japan rank for military expenditure?
- Japan ranks 121st out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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