Military spending in France
France: Military spending was 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
71.97 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 11.0%
World rank
7th
of 172 countries
All-time high
126.02 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1918
All-time low
692.97 million constant 2022 US$
in 1818
Years of data
207
1816–2023
Military spending in France, 1816–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
France recorded 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
That represents a change of up 11.0% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in France peaked at 126.02 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1918 and was at its lowest, 692.97 million constant 2022 US$, in 1818.
France ranks 7th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in France, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 842.67 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1817 | 709.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.8% |
| 1818 | 692.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1819 | 744.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1820 | 778.78 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1821 | 850.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1822 | 868.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1823 | 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +43.7% |
| 1824 | 1.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1825 | 1.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1826 | 1.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1827 | 1.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1828 | 1.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1829 | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1830 | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.7% |
| 1831 | 1.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.0% |
| 1832 | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1833 | 1.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1834 | 1.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.2% |
| 1835 | 1.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1836 | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1837 | 1.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1838 | 1.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1839 | 1.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 1840 | 2.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +23.6% |
| 1841 | 2.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.2% |
| 1842 | 2.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1843 | 2.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 2.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1845 | 2.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1846 | 2.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1847 | 2.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1848 | 3.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.5% |
| 1849 | 2.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -19.2% |
| 1850 | 2.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 1851 | 2.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1852 | 2.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1853 | 2.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1854 | 4.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +64.5% |
| 1855 | 5.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +44.9% |
| 1856 | 3.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | -35.3% |
| 1857 | 3.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.9% |
| 1858 | 3.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1859 | 3.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.6% |
| 1860 | 3.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1861 | 3.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -19.1% |
| 1862 | 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1863 | 3.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1864 | 4.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.1% |
| 1865 | 2.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | -44.0% |
| 1866 | 2.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1867 | 2.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.5% |
| 1868 | 2.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1869 | 3.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1870 | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +75.9% |
| 1871 | 3.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -32.9% |
| 1872 | 2.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -18.7% |
| 1873 | 3.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1874 | 2.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1875 | 2.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1876 | 3.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1877 | 3.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1878 | 3.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1879 | 3.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1880 | 3.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1881 | 3.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1882 | 3.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1883 | 4.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1884 | 4.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1885 | 3.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1886 | 4.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1887 | 3.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1888 | 4.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1889 | 4.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1890 | 4.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1891 | 4.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1892 | 4.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1893 | 4.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1894 | 4.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1895 | 4.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 4.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1897 | 5.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1898 | 5.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1899 | 5.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1900 | 5.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1901 | 5.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1902 | 5.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1903 | 5.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1904 | 5.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1905 | 5.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1906 | 5.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1907 | 5.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1908 | 5.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 6.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1910 | 6.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1911 | 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1912 | 7.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1913 | 7.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1914 | 25.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +236.5% |
| 1915 | 76.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +195.0% |
| 1916 | 100.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +31.4% |
| 1917 | 106.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1918 | 126.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.8% |
| 1919 | 8.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -93.2% |
| 1920 | 3.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | -56.1% |
| 1921 | 4.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.9% |
| 1922 | 5.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1923 | 4.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1924 | 4.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.8% |
| 1925 | 4.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1926 | 4.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1927 | 5.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1928 | 5.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1929 | 6.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1930 | 6.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1931 | 7.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 1932 | 8.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1933 | 9.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1934 | 12.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +35.1% |
| 1935 | 14.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1936 | 14.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1937 | 14.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1938 | 16.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1939 | 16.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1940 | 94.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +484.2% |
| 1941 | 12.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -87.2% |
| 1942 | 12.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1944 | 14.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.6% |
| 1945 | 17.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.3% |
| 1946 | 15.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1947 | 14.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1948 | 12.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.5% |
| 1949 | 15.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +28.8% |
| 1950 | 14.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1951 | 21.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +41.9% |
| 1952 | 7.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | -63.3% |
| 1953 | 30.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +297.5% |
| 1954 | 3.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -90.1% |
| 1955 | 22.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +643.1% |
| 1956 | 11.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | -48.4% |
| 1957 | 3.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | -69.9% |
| 1958 | 13.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +271.1% |
| 1959 | 25.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +90.0% |
| 1960 | 26.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1961 | 29.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1962 | 32.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1963 | 31.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1964 | 34.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 36.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1966 | 36.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1967 | 38.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1968 | 40.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1969 | 38.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1970 | 39.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 39.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 43.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1973 | 43.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 43.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 47.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1976 | 47.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 48.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 53.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1979 | 58.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 58.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 55.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1982 | 56.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 53.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 54.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 54.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 61.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 65.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 63.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 64.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 64.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 66.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 68.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 69.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 67.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 67.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 66.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 63.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 58.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 53.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 2000 | 52.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 52.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 55.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 64.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 69.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 68.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 68.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 73.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 73.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 67.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 63.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 61.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 57.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 61.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 58.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 53.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 56.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 59.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 64.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 66.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 67.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 68.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 64.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 11.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- France's 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$, 29.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | +643.1% | 3.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 22.82 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1940 | +484.2% | 16.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 94.95 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1953 | +297.5% | 7.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | 30.90 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1958 | +271.1% | 3.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.16 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1914 | +236.5% | 7.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 25.94 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1915 | +195.0% | 25.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | 76.52 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 747.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 692.97 million constant 2022 US$ | 842.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1820s | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 778.78 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 3.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 3.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 4.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 47.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 126.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 11.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 16.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 23.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 94.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1950s | 15.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 30.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 34.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 26.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 40.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 39.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | 58.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 58.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 53.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | 65.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 64.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 53.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 69.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 52.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 73.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | 53.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 66.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 64.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
- 4 India 95.30 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 5 Saudi Arabia 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 6 United Kingdom 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 8 Ukraine 62.62 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 9 Japan 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 10 Germany 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in France?
- Military spending in France was 71.97 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 126.02 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1918.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 692.97 million constant 2022 US$ in 1818.
- How does France rank for military spending?
- France ranks 7th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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
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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.