Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 2.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2.4%
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
144th
of 164 countries
All-time high
5.5%
in 1990
All-time low
2.0%
in 2021
Years of data
38
1988–2025
Military expenditure in Switzerland, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 2.4% for military expenditure in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Switzerland peaked at 5.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2021.
Switzerland ranks 144th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5.4% | — |
| 1989 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 5.5% | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | -8.2% |
| 1992 | 4.7% | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | -13.5% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 4.1% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 3.5% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 3.1% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -10.4% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -9.9% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | +10.5% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 2.2% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | +7.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 2.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 49% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 2.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.8%, 49% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.2% | 3.2% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 141 Ghana 2.4% compare
- 142 East Timor 2.4% compare
- 143 Haiti 2.4% compare
- 145 Cape Verde 2.3% compare
- 146 Brazil 2.2% compare
- 147 South Africa 2.2% compare
More public sector data for Switzerland
- 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 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.71 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 120 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Switzerland?
- Military expenditure in Switzerland was 2.4% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2021.
- How does Switzerland rank for military expenditure?
- Switzerland ranks 144th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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