Military spending in Congo
Congo: Military spending was 358.41 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
358.41 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
121st
of 172 countries
All-time high
679.18 million constant 2022 US$
in 2015
All-time low
4.26 million constant 2022 US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending in 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Congo is 358.41 million constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Congo peaked at 679.18 million constant 2022 US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4.26 million constant 2022 US$, in 1960.
That places Congo 121st out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Congo, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.26 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 17.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +311.5% |
| 1962 | 26.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +49.5% |
| 1963 | 29.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1964 | 33.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1965 | 39.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.3% |
| 1966 | 45.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1967 | 54.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.4% |
| 1968 | 55.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 66.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.9% |
| 1970 | 77.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.6% |
| 1971 | 81.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1972 | 84.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 98.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.2% |
| 1974 | 103.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 113.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1976 | 124.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1977 | 124.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 123.88 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 130.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 125.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1981 | 128.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 144.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1983 | 139.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 130.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 139.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 179.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.9% |
| 1987 | 183.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 168.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1989 | 158.29 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 154.69 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 178.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.2% |
| 1992 | 197.78 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1993 | 160.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.0% |
| 1994 | 95.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -40.1% |
| 1995 | 87.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1996 | 86.24 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 111.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.5% |
| 1998 | 120.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 105.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.2% |
| 2000 | 103.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 97.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 59.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -38.8% |
| 2003 | 87.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +47.0% |
| 2004 | 100.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2005 | 105.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 118.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 131.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 159.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.1% |
| 2009 | 172.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 254.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +47.7% |
| 2011 | 329.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.4% |
| 2012 | 375.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 2013 | 470.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.2% |
| 2014 | 667.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +41.8% |
| 2015 | 679.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 605.25 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 534.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.8% |
| 2018 | 395.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -26.0% |
| 2019 | 399.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 373.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 360.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 347.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 358.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 358.41 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 74% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Congo's 358.41 million constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | +311.5% | 4.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 17.54 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 37.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 4.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 66.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 106.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 77.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 130.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 149.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 125.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 183.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 129.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 86.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 197.78 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 113.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 59.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 172.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 471.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 254.91 million constant 2022 US$ | 679.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 359.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 347.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 373.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 118 Zambia 421.22 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 119 Chad 410.87 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 120 Mozambique 387.93 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 122 Albania 356.40 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 123 Gabon 342.88 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 124 Niger 341.19 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1866 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0031 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0668 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0724 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.017 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Congo?
- Military spending in Congo was 358.41 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 679.18 million constant 2022 US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.26 million constant 2022 US$ in 1960.
- How does Congo rank for military spending?
- Congo ranks 121st out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.