Military expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — European Union

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in the European Union in 2024 — 1.9%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 1.85 pp.

2024 1.9% +0.26 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 3.95%1963
Period minimum 1.3%2015

Trend over time

1960–2024 · % of GDP

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — European Union, 1960–20240123419601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 3.75%1962: 3.94%1964: 3.73%1966: 3.51%1968: 3.3%1970: 2.86%1972: 2.9%1974: 2.83%1976: 2.79%1978: 2.79%1980: 2.72%1982: 2.83%1984: 2.73%1986: 2.61%1988: 2.54%1990: 2.38%1992: 2.08%1994: 1.94%1996: 1.77%1998: 1.71%2000: 1.65%2002: 1.59%2004: 1.56%2006: 1.47%2008: 1.45%2010: 1.46%2012: 1.4%2014: 1.32%2016: 1.31%2018: 1.34%2020: 1.54%2022: 1.52%2024: 1.9%
Change over the period: −1.85 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union

European Union 1.9%
World 2.47%
Military expenditure (% of GDP) — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 1.9 +0.26 pp
2023 1.64 +0.12 pp
2022 1.52 +0.03 pp
2021 1.5 −0.04 pp
2020 1.54 +0.16 pp
2019 1.37 +0.04 pp
2018 1.34 +0.02 pp
2017 1.31 +0.01 pp
2016 1.31 +0 pp
2015 1.3 −0.01 pp
2014 1.32 −0.03 pp
2013 1.35 −0.05 pp
2012 1.4 −0 pp
2011 1.4 −0.06 pp
2010 1.46 −0.07 pp
2009 1.53 +0.07 pp
2008 1.45 +0.02 pp
2007 1.43 −0.04 pp
2006 1.47 −0.05 pp
2005 1.52 −0.04 pp
2004 1.56 −0.02 pp
2003 1.58 −0.01 pp
2002 1.59 −0.02 pp
2001 1.61 −0.04 pp
2000 1.65 −0.04 pp
1999 1.69 −0.02 pp
1998 1.71 −0.04 pp
1997 1.75 −0.01 pp
1996 1.77 −0.03 pp
1995 1.79 −0.15 pp
1994 1.94 −0.08 pp
1993 2.02 −0.06 pp
1992 2.08 −0.1 pp
1991 2.18 −0.2 pp
1990 2.38 −0.07 pp
1989 2.45 −0.09 pp
1988 2.54 −0.09 pp
1987 2.62 +0.02 pp
1986 2.61 −0.09 pp
1985 2.69 −0.04 pp
1984 2.73 −0.07 pp
1983 2.8 −0.03 pp
1982 2.83 +0.03 pp
1981 2.8 +0.08 pp
1980 2.72 −0.04 pp
1979 2.76 −0.03 pp
1978 2.79 −0.01 pp
1977 2.81 +0.02 pp
1976 2.79 −0.08 pp
1975 2.87 +0.04 pp
1974 2.83 +0.03 pp
1973 2.8 −0.1 pp
1972 2.9 +0.04 pp
1971 2.86 +0 pp
1970 2.86 −0.27 pp
1969 3.13 −0.17 pp
1968 3.3 −0.22 pp
1967 3.51 +0 pp
1966 3.51 −0.05 pp
1965 3.56 −0.17 pp
1964 3.73 −0.22 pp
1963 3.95 +0 pp
1962 3.94 +0.27 pp
1961 3.68 −0.07 pp
1960 3.75

About the indicator

Military expenditure as a percent of GDP under the SIPRI definition: current and capital spending on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces, defense ministries, paramilitary forces, military R&D, pensions of military personnel and military aid. The NATO benchmark for member states is at least 2% of GDP.

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