Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in United States
United States: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in United States, 2001–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
United States recorded 8.3% for military expenditure in 2025.
The figure is down 8.8% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in United States peaked at 12.4% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2021.
That places United States 43rd 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 25 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in United States, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9.6% | — |
| 2002 | 10.3% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 11.3% | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 11.8% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 11.8% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 12.0% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 9.9% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 9.6% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 9.0% | +14.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 9.0% | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | -8.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 8.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 1.7× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.4% | 9.6% | 12.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 9.3% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 7.9% | 9.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More public sector data for United States
- 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 745.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.56 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 52.65 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in United States?
- Military expenditure in United States was 8.3% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2011.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2021.
- How does United States rank for military expenditure?
- United States ranks 43rd out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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