Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Spain
Spain: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 4.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Spain, 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 Spain is 4.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 47.1% on the previous year and up 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Spain peaked at 6.1% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2020.
That places Spain 93rd out of 164 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Spain, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 6.1% | — |
| 1989 | 5.6% | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 5.3% | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 4.8% | -10.6% |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | -7.3% |
| 1994 | 4.2% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 4.1% | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | -11.2% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 3.5% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -11.0% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +11.2% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +11.8% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | +9.3% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | -4.6% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | +47.1% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 4.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 99% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Spain's 4.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.8%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +47.1% | 3.2% | 4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.9% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.0% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.9% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.6% | 4.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 90 Netherlands 4.8% compare
- 91 Benin 4.8% compare
- 92 Kosovo 4.8% compare
- 94 Tajikistan 4.7% compare
- 95 Rwanda 4.7% compare
- 96 Equatorial Guinea 4.7% compare
More public sector data for Spain
- 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 237.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.03 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -16.85 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Spain?
- Military expenditure in Spain was 4.7% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 1988.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2020.
- How does Spain rank for military expenditure?
- Spain ranks 93rd out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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