Military expenditure share of the budget — all countries

Military expenditure share of the budget — Western Europe

Military expenditure share of the budget in Western Europe in 2024 — 3.59%. Since 1988, the indicator has fallen by 1.7 pp.

2024 3.59% +0.54 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 5.29%1988
Period minimum 2.62%2014

Trend over time

1988–2024 · % of government expenditure

Military expenditure share of the budget — Western Europe, 1988–20242345619881992199620002004200820122016202020241988: 5.29%1989: 5.25%1990: 5.07%1991: 4.61%1992: 4.24%1993: 3.91%1994: 3.76%1995: 3.37%1996: 3.46%1997: 3.42%1998: 3.34%1999: 3.3%2000: 3.22%2001: 3.14%2002: 3.09%2003: 3.09%2004: 3.1%2005: 3.01%2006: 2.97%2007: 2.96%2008: 2.93%2009: 2.92%2010: 2.78%2011: 2.75%2012: 2.73%2013: 2.64%2014: 2.62%2015: 2.62%2016: 2.64%2017: 2.65%2018: 2.7%2019: 2.82%2020: 2.74%2021: 2.73%2022: 2.85%2023: 3.05%2024: 3.59%
Change over the period: −1.7 pp Annual average: -0.05 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Europe

Western Europe 3.59%
World 6.75%
Military expenditure share of the budget — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 3.59 +0.54 pp
2023 3.05 +0.2 pp
2022 2.85 +0.11 pp
2021 2.73 −0.01 pp
2020 2.74 −0.07 pp
2019 2.82 +0.12 pp
2018 2.7 +0.05 pp
2017 2.65 +0.01 pp
2016 2.64 +0.02 pp
2015 2.62 +0 pp
2014 2.62 −0.02 pp
2013 2.64 −0.09 pp
2012 2.73 −0.02 pp
2011 2.75 −0.04 pp
2010 2.78 −0.14 pp
2009 2.92 −0.01 pp
2008 2.93 −0.04 pp
2007 2.96 −0.01 pp
2006 2.97 −0.04 pp
2005 3.01 −0.09 pp
2004 3.1 +0.01 pp
2003 3.09 +0 pp
2002 3.09 −0.05 pp
2001 3.14 −0.08 pp
2000 3.22 −0.08 pp
1999 3.3 −0.04 pp
1998 3.34 −0.08 pp
1997 3.42 −0.05 pp
1996 3.46 +0.1 pp
1995 3.37 −0.39 pp
1994 3.76 −0.15 pp
1993 3.91 −0.34 pp
1992 4.24 −0.36 pp
1991 4.61 −0.47 pp
1990 5.07 −0.18 pp
1989 5.25 −0.04 pp
1988 5.29

About the indicator

Military expenditure as a percent of total general government expenditure. Unlike the share of GDP it shows priorities inside the budget: a country can spend little on defense as a percent of GDP, yet with a small state that will be a substantial part of all government spending — and the other way round.

Important: The aggregate for country groups is weighted by government consumption in dollars: it makes up about two thirds of all budget spending, and the source does not publish budget expenditure in absolute terms.

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.