Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 18.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1999–2025
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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 18.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.0% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 20.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2011.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 2nd out of 44 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 22.2% | — |
| 2000 | 20.4% | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 20.1% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 17.8% | -11.4% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 17.5% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 15.2% | -10.0% |
| 2009 | 15.3% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 15.5% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 14.5% | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 16.3% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 17.0% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 20.1% | +18.7% |
| 2016 | 17.8% | -11.5% |
| 2017 | 19.0% | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 17.5% | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 16.3% | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 15.6% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 15.7% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 15.9% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 16.7% | +4.8% |
| 2025 | 18.8% | +13.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.2% | 22.2% | 22.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.6% | 15.2% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 14.5% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.5% | 15.6% | 18.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More public sector data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Arms imports 7.81 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 7.55 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0012 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -41.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 6.14 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 246.67 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0393 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 15.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 200.58 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 831.08 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 18.8% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 20.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2011.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for military expenditure?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 2nd out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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