Military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Military spending was 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
640.30 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 25.6%
World rank
100th
of 172 countries
All-time high
696.69 million constant 2022 US$
in 2015
All-time low
13.02 million constant 2022 US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
The figure is up 25.6% on the previous year and up 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 696.69 million constant 2022 US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 13.02 million constant 2022 US$, in 1960.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 100th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.02 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 92.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +611.1% |
| 1962 | 164.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +77.4% |
| 1963 | 203.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.2% |
| 1964 | 166.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.2% |
| 1965 | 354.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +112.3% |
| 1966 | 368.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 342.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1968 | 352.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 406.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1970 | 521.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.3% |
| 1971 | 528.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 517.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 460.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1974 | 653.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +41.9% |
| 1975 | 572.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.4% |
| 1976 | 375.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -34.5% |
| 1977 | 296.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.0% |
| 1978 | 261.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.8% |
| 1979 | 303.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.0% |
| 1980 | 277.28 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 1981 | 170.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -38.6% |
| 1982 | 234.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +38.0% |
| 1983 | 194.78 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.1% |
| 1984 | 168.30 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.6% |
| 1985 | 151.92 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.7% |
| 1986 | 151.88 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 109.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -28.1% |
| 1988 | 242.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +121.7% |
| 1989 | 177.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -26.9% |
| 1990 | 133.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -24.6% |
| 1991 | 160.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.0% |
| 1992 | 172.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 346.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +100.3% |
| 1994 | 295.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1995 | 300.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 204.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -32.0% |
| 1997 | 263.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.9% |
| 1998 | 172.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -34.5% |
| 1999 | 379.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +120.3% |
| 2000 | 314.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.1% |
| 2001 | 696.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +121.2% |
| 2002 | 288.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -58.5% |
| 2003 | 191.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -33.7% |
| 2004 | 232.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.3% |
| 2005 | 213.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 219.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 215.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 200.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 181.53 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.7% |
| 2010 | 227.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.4% |
| 2011 | 268.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.9% |
| 2012 | 316.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.9% |
| 2013 | 457.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +44.7% |
| 2014 | 524.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 2015 | 696.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +32.8% |
| 2016 | 683.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 491.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -28.1% |
| 2018 | 402.63 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.1% |
| 2019 | 438.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2020 | 448.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 435.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 509.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.0% |
| 2023 | 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.6% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | +611.1% | 13.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 92.56 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 246.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 13.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 406.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 449.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 261.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 653.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 187.78 million constant 2022 US$ | 109.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 277.28 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 242.85 million constant 2022 US$ | 133.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 379.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 275.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 181.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 696.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 450.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 227.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 696.69 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 508.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 435.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 640.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 97 Bolivia 713.62 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 98 Cyprus 662.13 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 99 Luxembourg 641.81 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 101 Botswana 639.15 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 102 Turkmenistan 609.92 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 103 Costa Rica 601.28 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3528 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.335 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.82 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Military spending in Democratic Republic of Congo was 640.30 million 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 696.69 million constant 2022 US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.02 million constant 2022 US$ in 1960.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for military spending?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 100th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 — 64 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.