Military spending in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Military spending was 571.73 million constant 2022 US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
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$, in 1920.
Afghanistan ranks 106th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 45.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 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
- Spring temperature anomalies 3.05 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6919 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.1923 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.68 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 168.54 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
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.
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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.