Military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador
El Salvador: Military spending as a share of government spending was 4.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador, 1990–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government spending.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador stood at 4.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador peaked at 21.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2016.
That places El Salvador 104th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of government spending | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.4% | — |
| 1991 | 14.9% | -30.4% |
| 1992 | 11.1% | -25.3% |
| 1993 | 9.4% | -15.3% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | -20.1% |
| 1995 | 6.7% | -10.5% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -18.4% |
| 1997 | 5.9% | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | -10.8% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 4.5% | -13.7% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +26.7% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | -25.5% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | +28.9% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | -12.3% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 4.4% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.3% | 5.2% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 3.8% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More reference data data for El Salvador
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2714 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6267 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0909 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3176 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4948 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador?
- Military spending as a share of government spending in El Salvador was 4.4% in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of government spending recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 21.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of government spending recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2016.
- How does El Salvador rank for military spending as a share of government spending?
- El Salvador ranks 104th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of government spending rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by government spending.