Military spending as a share of government spending in United States
United States: Military spending as a share of government spending was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military spending as a share of government spending in United States, 2001–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government spending.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending as a share of government spending in United States is 8.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 8.8% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of government spending in United States peaked at 12.4% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2021.
That places United States 44th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Military spending as a share of government spending in United States, year by year
| Year | % of government spending | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9.6% | — |
| 2002 | 10.3% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 11.3% | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 11.8% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 11.8% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 12.0% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 9.9% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 9.6% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 9.0% | +14.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 9.0% | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | -8.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.4% | 9.6% | 12.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 9.3% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 7.9% | 9.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of government spending in United States?
- Military spending as a share of government spending in United States was 8.3% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2011.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of government spending recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2021.
- How does United States rank for military spending as a share of government spending?
- United States ranks 44th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of government spending rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.