Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Tanzania
Tanzania: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 5.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Tanzania, 1991–2025
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 Tanzania is 5.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Tanzania peaked at 12.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2008.
Tanzania ranks 71st of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.7% | — |
| 1992 | 9.9% | -22.2% |
| 1993 | 6.9% | -29.8% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | -8.1% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | +35.2% |
| 1996 | 9.6% | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 10.3% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -16.9% |
| 2000 | 8.9% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 9.7% | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 7.9% | -18.4% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | -26.9% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | -16.4% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -9.7% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 4.5% | +17.0% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 5.2% | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | +13.5% |
| 2015 | 6.4% | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 6.5% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 6.1% | -4.8% |
| 2025 | 5.8% | -5.4% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 5.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 5.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9%, 99% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.2% | 6.4% | 12.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.8% | 3.9% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 4.5% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.2% | 5.8% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More public sector data for Tanzania
- 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 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.8276 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0007 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 550 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Tanzania?
- Military expenditure in Tanzania was 5.8% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 12.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2008.
- How does Tanzania rank for military expenditure?
- Tanzania ranks 71st out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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