Military expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — Western Europe

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Western Europe in 2024 — 1.75%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 2.35 pp.

2024 1.75% +0.26 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 4.42%1963
Period minimum 1.26%2015

Trend over time

1960–2024 · % of GDP

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — Western Europe, 1960–2024024619601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 4.11%1962: 4.38%1964: 4.13%1966: 3.78%1968: 3.48%1970: 3.02%1972: 2.99%1974: 2.96%1976: 2.96%1978: 2.93%1980: 2.88%1982: 2.96%1984: 2.85%1986: 2.75%1988: 2.61%1990: 2.47%1992: 2.08%1994: 1.88%1996: 1.74%1998: 1.63%2000: 1.54%2002: 1.5%2004: 1.49%2006: 1.4%2008: 1.38%2010: 1.4%2012: 1.34%2014: 1.28%2016: 1.27%2018: 1.28%2020: 1.45%2022: 1.41%2024: 1.75%
Change over the period: −2.35 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Western Europe 1.75%
World 2.47%
Military expenditure (% of GDP) — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 1.75 +0.26 pp
2023 1.49 +0.08 pp
2022 1.41 +0 pp
2021 1.41 −0.05 pp
2020 1.45 +0.12 pp
2019 1.33 +0.05 pp
2018 1.28 +0.01 pp
2017 1.27 +0 pp
2016 1.27 +0 pp
2015 1.26 −0.02 pp
2014 1.28 −0.02 pp
2013 1.3 −0.04 pp
2012 1.34 −0 pp
2011 1.34 −0.06 pp
2010 1.4 −0.08 pp
2009 1.48 +0.1 pp
2008 1.38 +0.01 pp
2007 1.37 −0.03 pp
2006 1.4 −0.05 pp
2005 1.45 −0.04 pp
2004 1.49 −0.02 pp
2003 1.51 +0.01 pp
2002 1.5 +0 pp
2001 1.5 −0.04 pp
2000 1.54 −0.06 pp
1999 1.61 −0.02 pp
1998 1.63 −0.06 pp
1997 1.69 −0.05 pp
1996 1.74 −0.04 pp
1995 1.78 −0.1 pp
1994 1.88 −0.09 pp
1993 1.97 −0.11 pp
1992 2.08 −0.13 pp
1991 2.21 −0.26 pp
1990 2.47 −0.05 pp
1989 2.52 −0.09 pp
1988 2.61 −0.12 pp
1987 2.73 −0.01 pp
1986 2.75 −0.07 pp
1985 2.82 −0.04 pp
1984 2.85 −0.07 pp
1983 2.92 −0.03 pp
1982 2.96 +0 pp
1981 2.95 +0.07 pp
1980 2.88 −0.02 pp
1979 2.9 −0.02 pp
1978 2.93 −0.04 pp
1977 2.96 −0 pp
1976 2.96 −0.08 pp
1975 3.04 +0.09 pp
1974 2.96 +0.01 pp
1973 2.94 −0.05 pp
1972 2.99 +0.01 pp
1971 2.98 −0.04 pp
1970 3.02 −0.29 pp
1969 3.31 −0.17 pp
1968 3.48 −0.37 pp
1967 3.86 +0.08 pp
1966 3.78 −0.12 pp
1965 3.9 −0.23 pp
1964 4.13 −0.29 pp
1963 4.42 +0.04 pp
1962 4.38 +0.32 pp
1961 4.06 −0.05 pp
1960 4.11

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.