Military spending as a share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Military spending as a share of government spending was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military spending as a share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1988–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government spending.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 5.4% for military spending as a share of government spending in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 11.3% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2020.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 79th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Military spending as a share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of government spending | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 11.3% | — |
| 1989 | 11.0% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 10.4% | -5.4% |
| 1991 | 10.5% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -10.8% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 8.3% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 7.6% | -8.7% |
| 1996 | 7.6% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.3% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 7.1% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 7.0% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 6.5% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 6.3% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -15.6% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | +14.9% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.2% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 8.4% | 7.1% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More reference data data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Military spending as a share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 5.4% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3% in 1988.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of government spending recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for military spending as a share of government spending?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 79th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of government spending rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.