Military spending in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Military spending was 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
571.73 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 32.5%
World rank
106th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.90 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2014
All-time low
39.71 million constant 2022 US$
in 1920
Years of data
103
1919–2021
Military spending in Afghanistan, 1919–2021
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 32.5% on the previous year and down 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Afghanistan peaked at 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2014 and was at its lowest, 39.71 million constant 2022 US$, in 1920.
Afghanistan ranks 106th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 | 45.64 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1920 | 39.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.0% |
| 1921 | 47.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1922 | 48.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1923 | 50.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1924 | 46.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1925 | 50.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1926 | 54.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1927 | 56.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1928 | 60.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1929 | 61.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 64.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1931 | 65.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 69.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1933 | 78.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.2% |
| 1934 | 98.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.8% |
| 1935 | 106.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1936 | 112.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1937 | 108.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1938 | 113.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1939 | 108.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1940 | 108.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1941 | 105.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1942 | 98.69 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1943 | 89.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1944 | 82.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1945 | 87.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1946 | 70.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.9% |
| 1947 | 58.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.5% |
| 1948 | 49.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.8% |
| 1949 | 53.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1950 | 46.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.1% |
| 1951 | 48.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1952 | 56.78 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 1953 | 61.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1954 | 54.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1955 | 49.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1956 | 50.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 58.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 1958 | 62.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1959 | 77.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.1% |
| 1960 | 87.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.7% |
| 1961 | 97.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1962 | 104.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1963 | 97.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.4% |
| 1964 | 104.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1965 | 106.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 108.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 112.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 121.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1969 | 120.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 101.84 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.1% |
| 1971 | 119.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.7% |
| 1972 | 129.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1973 | 113.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 1974 | 112.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 121.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1976 | 127.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 126.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 196.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +55.9% |
| 1979 | 280.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +42.8% |
| 1980 | 608.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +117.0% |
| 1981 | 610.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 597.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 566.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 526.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1985 | 570.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1986 | 564.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 569.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 567.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 568.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 757.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +33.4% |
| 1991 | 773.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 797.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 774.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 778.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 317.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -59.2% |
| 1996 | 311.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 329.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 377.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 1999 | 374.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 377.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 286.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -24.0% |
| 2002 | 265.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 229.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.3% |
| 2004 | 204.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 168.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.7% |
| 2006 | 182.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 204.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.2% |
| 2008 | 241.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.8% |
| 2009 | 307.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +27.5% |
| 2010 | 443.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +44.4% |
| 2011 | 1.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +184.3% |
| 2012 | 1.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.7% |
| 2013 | 1.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 1.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.0% |
| 2017 | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 1.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 1.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -14.5% |
| 2020 | 846.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.1% |
| 2021 | 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -32.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 10% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +184.3% | 443.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.26 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1980 | +117.0% | 280.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 608.56 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1995 | -59.2% | 778.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 317.43 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 45.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 45.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 45.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 1 |
| 1920s | 51.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 39.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 61.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 92.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 64.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 113.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 80.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 49.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 108.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 56.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 46.94 million constant 2022 US$ | 77.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 106.07 million constant 2022 US$ | 87.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 121.88 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 142.88 million constant 2022 US$ | 101.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 280.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 575.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 526.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 610.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 559.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 311.16 million constant 2022 US$ | 797.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 246.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 168.54 million constant 2022 US$ | 377.62 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | 443.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 709.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 846.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 103 Costa Rica 601.28 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 104 Honduras 583.42 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 105 Zimbabwe 578.61 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 107 Brunei 566.79 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 108 Cameroon 545.00 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 109 Nepal 530.13 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Afghanistan?
- Military spending in Afghanistan was 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ in 2021, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2014.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.71 million constant 2022 US$ in 1920.
- How does Afghanistan rank for military spending?
- Afghanistan ranks 106th out of 172 countries with data for 2021.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 103 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.