Military expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — United Kingdom

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in the United Kingdom in 2024 — 2.28%. Ranked 42 in the world out of 147. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 4.81 pp.

2024 2.28% +0.05 pp vs 2023
World rank 42of 147
Period maximum 7.09%1960
Period minimum 1.94%2018

Trend over time

1960–2024 · % of GDP

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, 1960–20240246819601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 7.09%1962: 6.94%1964: 6.6%1966: 6.25%1968: 5.94%1970: 5.2%1972: 5.17%1974: 5.07%1976: 5.18%1978: 4.73%1980: 5.02%1982: 5.38%1984: 5.51%1986: 5.06%1988: 4.21%1990: 3.98%1992: 3.86%1994: 3.38%1996: 2.72%1998: 2.5%2000: 2.37%2002: 2.49%2004: 2.5%2006: 2.37%2008: 2.49%2010: 2.57%2012: 2.42%2014: 2.18%2016: 1.98%2018: 1.94%2020: 2.16%2022: 2.06%2024: 2.28%
Change over the period: −4.81 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Kingdom

United Kingdom 2.28%
World 2.47%
Northern Europe computed 2.08%
Military expenditure (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.28 +0.05 pp
2023 2.23 +0.17 pp
2022 2.06 −0.02 pp
2021 2.07 −0.09 pp
2020 2.16 +0.18 pp
2019 1.99 +0.04 pp
2018 1.94 −0.01 pp
2017 1.95 −0.03 pp
2016 1.98 −0.06 pp
2015 2.05 −0.14 pp
2014 2.18 −0.11 pp
2013 2.29 −0.13 pp
2012 2.42 −0.08 pp
2011 2.5 −0.07 pp
2010 2.57 −0.08 pp
2009 2.65 +0.16 pp
2008 2.49 +0.11 pp
2007 2.37 +0 pp
2006 2.37 −0.05 pp
2005 2.42 −0.08 pp
2004 2.5 −0.05 pp
2003 2.55 +0.07 pp
2002 2.49 +0.07 pp
2001 2.41 +0.04 pp
2000 2.37 −0.05 pp
1999 2.42 −0.07 pp
1998 2.5 −0.06 pp
1997 2.56 −0.16 pp
1996 2.72 −0.13 pp
1995 2.85 −0.53 pp
1994 3.38 −0.21 pp
1993 3.59 −0.27 pp
1992 3.86 −0.25 pp
1991 4.12 +0.13 pp
1990 3.98 −0.06 pp
1989 4.04 −0.17 pp
1988 4.21 −0.47 pp
1987 4.69 −0.37 pp
1986 5.06 −0.26 pp
1985 5.32 −0.19 pp
1984 5.51 +0.11 pp
1983 5.4 +0.02 pp
1982 5.38 +0.4 pp
1981 4.98 −0.04 pp
1980 5.02 +0.34 pp
1979 4.68 −0.05 pp
1978 4.73 −0.19 pp
1977 4.92 −0.25 pp
1976 5.18 −0.16 pp
1975 5.34 +0.27 pp
1974 5.07 +0.16 pp
1973 4.91 −0.26 pp
1972 5.17 +0.09 pp
1971 5.08 −0.12 pp
1970 5.2 −0.3 pp
1969 5.5 −0.44 pp
1968 5.94 −0.29 pp
1967 6.24 −0.01 pp
1966 6.25 −0.19 pp
1965 6.44 −0.16 pp
1964 6.6 −0.2 pp
1963 6.8 −0.14 pp
1962 6.94 +0.02 pp
1961 6.92 −0.17 pp
1960 7.09

Northern Europe, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.