Military spending in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Military spending was 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.14 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 9.8%
World rank
85th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.71 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1990
All-time low
16.60 million constant 2022 US$
in 1948
Years of data
122
1898–2023
Military spending in Ethiopia, 1898–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.8% on the previous year and up 174.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Ethiopia peaked at 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1990 and was at its lowest, 16.60 million constant 2022 US$, in 1948.
That places Ethiopia 85th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1898 | 50.43 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1899 | 49.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1900 | 47.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1901 | 47.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1902 | 51.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1903 | 47.76 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1904 | 49.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 47.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1906 | 44.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1907 | 44.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1908 | 45.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1909 | 46.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1910 | 46.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1911 | 47.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1912 | 48.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1913 | 50.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1914 | 43.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.2% |
| 1915 | 45.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1916 | 42.99 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1917 | 37.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1918 | 33.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1919 | 27.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.5% |
| 1920 | 21.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.4% |
| 1921 | 26.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.4% |
| 1922 | 28.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1923 | 27.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1924 | 25.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1925 | 25.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1926 | 26.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1927 | 28.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1928 | 29.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 29.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 28.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1931 | 30.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1932 | 30.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1933 | 27.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.3% |
| 1934 | 34.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.4% |
| 1935 | 34.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1936 | 31.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.8% |
| 1941 | 30.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1942 | 28.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 1943 | 25.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1944 | 25.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1945 | 28.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1946 | 22.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.5% |
| 1947 | 18.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1948 | 16.60 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1949 | 20.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.8% |
| 1950 | 22.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1951 | 35.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +60.3% |
| 1952 | 39.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1953 | 56.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +44.1% |
| 1954 | 59.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1955 | 68.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.0% |
| 1956 | 88.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.8% |
| 1957 | 105.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.1% |
| 1958 | 109.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1959 | 99.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1960 | 111.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1961 | 130.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.1% |
| 1962 | 144.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1963 | 169.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.7% |
| 1964 | 208.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.3% |
| 1965 | 236.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1966 | 255.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1967 | 262.64 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 252.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1969 | 234.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1970 | 232.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 236.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 252.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 261.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 283.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 390.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +37.8% |
| 1976 | 423.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1977 | 496.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.2% |
| 1978 | 506.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +106.7% |
| 1980 | 986.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1981 | 977.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 939.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 894.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 859.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 749.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.7% |
| 1986 | 789.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 769.80 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 1.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +43.4% |
| 1989 | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +49.8% |
| 1991 | 802.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -53.2% |
| 1992 | 780.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 289.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -62.9% |
| 1994 | 254.52 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.1% |
| 1995 | 236.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 227.40 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 267.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.5% |
| 1998 | 721.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +170.2% |
| 1999 | 892.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.7% |
| 2000 | 877.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 707.24 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.4% |
| 2002 | 567.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.8% |
| 2003 | 467.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.6% |
| 2004 | 456.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 428.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 445.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 456.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 444.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 457.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 398.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 362.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 361.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 414.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.7% |
| 2014 | 454.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 480.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 540.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 2017 | 581.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 611.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 682.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 2020 | 678.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 775.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 2022 | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +33.8% |
| 2023 | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 2.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 3.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +170.2% | 267.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 721.83 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1979 | +106.7% | 506.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 49.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 49.11 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 2 |
| 1900s | 47.19 million constant 2022 US$ | 44.61 million constant 2022 US$ | 51.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 42.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.68 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 26.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 21.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 29.05 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 31.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 34.80 million constant 2022 US$ | 7 |
| 1940s | 24.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 16.60 million constant 2022 US$ | 30.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1950s | 68.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 22.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 109.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 200.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 111.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 262.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 412.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 232.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 921.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 749.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 618.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 227.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 530.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 428.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 877.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 488.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 361.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 682.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 907.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 678.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Ethiopia?
- Military spending in Ethiopia was 1.14 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1990.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.60 million constant 2022 US$ in 1948.
- How does Ethiopia rank for military spending?
- Ethiopia ranks 85th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 174.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 122 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.