Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 5.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in United Kingdom peaked at 11.3% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 79th of 164 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 11.3% | — |
| 1989 | 11.0% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 10.4% | -5.4% |
| 1991 | 10.5% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -10.8% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 8.3% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 7.6% | -8.7% |
| 1996 | 7.6% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.3% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 7.1% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 7.0% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 6.5% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 6.3% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -15.6% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | +14.9% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -2.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 5.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 5.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.8%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.2% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 8.4% | 7.1% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- 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 609.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 9.28 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 36.23 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in United Kingdom?
- Military expenditure in United Kingdom was 5.4% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3% in 1988.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military expenditure?
- United Kingdom ranks 79th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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