Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 2.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 2.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in New Zealand peaked at 4.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2014.
New Zealand ranks 135th 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4.6% | — |
| 1989 | 4.5% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 4.7% | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 4.3% | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 4.0% | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | -10.1% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | -4.4% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | -4.2% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 56% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 54% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More public sector data for New Zealand
- 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 200.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 37.81 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0008 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -50.62 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in New Zealand?
- Military expenditure in New Zealand was 2.7% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2014.
- How does New Zealand rank for military expenditure?
- New Zealand ranks 135th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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