Military spending in Colombia
Colombia: Military spending was 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
12.36 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
27th
of 172 countries
All-time high
13.24 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
7.96 million constant 2022 US$
in 1866
Years of data
193
1831–2023
Military spending in Colombia, 1831–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Colombia stood at 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Colombia peaked at 13.24 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.96 million constant 2022 US$, in 1866.
That places Colombia 27th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Colombia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 | 62.54 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1832 | 61.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1833 | 68.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 1834 | 62.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 1835 | 63.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1836 | 56.99 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1837 | 57.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1838 | 61.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1839 | 61.21 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1840 | 69.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1841 | 69.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1842 | 71.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1843 | 74.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1844 | 73.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1845 | 66.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1846 | 67.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1847 | 58.60 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.9% |
| 1848 | 59.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1849 | 57.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1850 | 50.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.6% |
| 1851 | 48.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 1852 | 46.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1853 | 42.92 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 1854 | 39.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.6% |
| 1855 | 36.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1856 | 32.83 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1857 | 28.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.5% |
| 1858 | 27.76 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1859 | 27.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1860 | 24.55 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1861 | 18.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.9% |
| 1862 | 16.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.3% |
| 1863 | 13.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -20.8% |
| 1864 | 12.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1865 | 8.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -33.2% |
| 1866 | 7.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1867 | 9.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1868 | 9.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1869 | 11.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.9% |
| 1870 | 9.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.1% |
| 1871 | 10.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1872 | 11.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.3% |
| 1873 | 13.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1874 | 11.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.8% |
| 1875 | 9.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.4% |
| 1876 | 10.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1877 | 24.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +126.3% |
| 1878 | 27.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1879 | 25.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 1880 | 23.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1881 | 25.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1882 | 32.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.3% |
| 1883 | 31.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1884 | 34.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1885 | 31.80 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1886 | 33.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1887 | 29.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1888 | 32.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1889 | 31.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1890 | 32.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1891 | 27.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.7% |
| 1892 | 28.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1893 | 27.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1894 | 27.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1895 | 28.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1896 | 26.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1897 | 26.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1898 | 25.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1899 | 63.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +149.0% |
| 1900 | 67.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1901 | 39.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -40.6% |
| 1902 | 39.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1903 | 42.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1904 | 44.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1905 | 43.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1906 | 49.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1907 | 52.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1908 | 55.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1909 | 58.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1910 | 54.74 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1911 | 54.05 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1912 | 53.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1913 | 59.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1914 | 53.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1915 | 58.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1916 | 57.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1917 | 51.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.4% |
| 1918 | 46.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.1% |
| 1919 | 38.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.6% |
| 1920 | 38.40 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1921 | 48.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.8% |
| 1922 | 49.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1923 | 44.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.2% |
| 1924 | 43.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1925 | 49.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1926 | 58.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.6% |
| 1927 | 75.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.1% |
| 1928 | 86.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.4% |
| 1929 | 86.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1930 | 73.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.0% |
| 1931 | 70.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1932 | 75.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1933 | 87.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.2% |
| 1934 | 112.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.5% |
| 1935 | 111.60 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1936 | 123.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 1937 | 124.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1938 | 148.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.7% |
| 1939 | 189.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +27.1% |
| 1940 | 171.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1941 | 159.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.9% |
| 1942 | 151.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1943 | 143.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1944 | 175.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.9% |
| 1945 | 208.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.7% |
| 1946 | 198.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1947 | 201.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 333.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +64.9% |
| 1949 | 396.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1950 | 199.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -49.8% |
| 1951 | 453.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +128.0% |
| 1952 | 563.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.3% |
| 1953 | 736.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +30.6% |
| 1954 | 927.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.9% |
| 1955 | 909.72 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1956 | 961.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1957 | 718.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -25.2% |
| 1958 | 437.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -39.1% |
| 1959 | 387.29 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 1960 | 420.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1961 | 521.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.9% |
| 1962 | 682.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.0% |
| 1963 | 742.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1964 | 824.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1965 | 847.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 737.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.0% |
| 1967 | 672.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1968 | 678.32 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 642.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1970 | 705.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1971 | 969.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +37.3% |
| 1972 | 626.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -35.3% |
| 1973 | 541.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.6% |
| 1974 | 541.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 576.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 542.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1977 | 552.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 610.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1979 | 748.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +22.7% |
| 1980 | 742.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 862.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.1% |
| 1982 | 986.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.4% |
| 1983 | 1.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 975.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1986 | 1.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 925.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1988 | 977.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.3% |
| 1990 | 1.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +42.4% |
| 1991 | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.0% |
| 1992 | 1.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 2.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1994 | 2.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.7% |
| 1995 | 3.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +33.4% |
| 1996 | 4.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +43.5% |
| 1997 | 4.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1998 | 4.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 3.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 4.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.0% |
| 2001 | 4.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 4.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 4.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 5.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.2% |
| 2005 | 6.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 2006 | 6.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 9.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +41.2% |
| 2008 | 10.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.8% |
| 2009 | 10.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 9.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 8.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 9.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 11.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.5% |
| 2014 | 13.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 2015 | 11.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 10.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 12.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 2018 | 12.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 13.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 12.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 12.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 12.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 9.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 509.92 million constant 2022 US$, 24.2× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Colombia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | +149.0% | 25.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 63.91 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1951 | +128.0% | 199.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 453.89 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1877 | +126.3% | 10.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 24.59 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 61.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 56.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 68.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1840s | 66.72 million constant 2022 US$ | 57.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 74.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 37.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 13.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 7.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 24.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 15.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 9.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 30.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 23.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 34.19 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 31.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 25.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 63.91 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 49.28 million constant 2022 US$ | 39.91 million constant 2022 US$ | 67.21 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 52.68 million constant 2022 US$ | 38.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 59.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 58.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 38.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 86.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 111.62 million constant 2022 US$ | 70.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 189.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 213.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 143.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 396.12 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 629.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 199.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 961.05 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 677.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 420.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 847.91 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 641.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 541.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 969.28 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 970.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 742.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 24 Singapore 15.39 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 25 Qatar 14.38 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 26 Pakistan 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 28 Mexico 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 29 Indonesia 11.67 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 30 Norway 10.47 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Colombia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4113 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 61.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 94.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Colombia?
- Military spending in Colombia was 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.24 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.96 million constant 2022 US$ in 1866.
- How does Colombia rank for military spending?
- Colombia ranks 27th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia 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 — 193 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.