Military spending in Germany
Germany: Military spending was 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
62.28 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
10th
of 172 countries
All-time high
681.50 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1944
All-time low
252.73 million constant 2022 US$
in 1818
Years of data
196
1816–2020
Military spending in Germany, 1816–2020
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Germany recorded 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2020.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Germany peaked at 681.50 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944 and was at its lowest, 252.73 million constant 2022 US$, in 1818.
Germany ranks 10th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Germany, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 289.77 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1817 | 254.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.2% |
| 1818 | 252.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1819 | 284.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1820 | 298.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1821 | 330.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1822 | 332.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1823 | 351.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1824 | 353.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 340.29 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1826 | 348.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1827 | 346.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1828 | 369.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1829 | 378.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1830 | 348.80 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 1831 | 416.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1832 | 417.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 435.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1834 | 409.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1835 | 417.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1836 | 368.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.6% |
| 1837 | 404.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1838 | 388.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1839 | 403.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1840 | 465.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1841 | 463.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1842 | 478.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1843 | 503.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1844 | 498.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1845 | 512.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1846 | 519.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1847 | 504.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1848 | 468.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1849 | 506.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1850 | 485.37 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1851 | 536.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1852 | 549.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1853 | 526.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1854 | 538.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1855 | 545.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1856 | 555.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 546.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1858 | 589.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1859 | 648.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1860 | 690.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1861 | 641.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1862 | 674.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1863 | 652.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1864 | 922.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +41.3% |
| 1865 | 706.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -23.4% |
| 1866 | 693.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1867 | 787.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1868 | 952.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.0% |
| 1869 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1870 | 3.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +250.7% |
| 1871 | 1.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -49.7% |
| 1872 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1873 | 1.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1874 | 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1875 | 1.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1876 | 2.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.4% |
| 1877 | 2.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1878 | 2.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1879 | 2.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1880 | 2.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1881 | 2.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1882 | 2.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1883 | 2.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1884 | 2.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1885 | 2.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1886 | 2.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1887 | 3.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1888 | 3.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.7% |
| 1889 | 3.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1890 | 4.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1891 | 3.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1892 | 3.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1893 | 4.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1894 | 4.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1895 | 4.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1896 | 4.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1897 | 4.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1898 | 4.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1899 | 4.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1900 | 5.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1901 | 5.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1902 | 5.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1903 | 5.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1904 | 5.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1905 | 6.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1906 | 6.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1907 | 6.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1908 | 6.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1909 | 7.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1910 | 7.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1911 | 7.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1912 | 8.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1913 | 9.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.1% |
| 1914 | 37.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +301.5% |
| 1915 | 112.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +199.7% |
| 1916 | 105.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1917 | 127.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.2% |
| 1918 | 142.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1919 | 967.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -99.3% |
| 1920 | 774.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -20.0% |
| 1921 | 838.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1922 | 672.99 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.7% |
| 1923 | 6.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | +904.0% |
| 1924 | 2.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | -68.2% |
| 1925 | 2.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1926 | 2.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1927 | 2.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1928 | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1929 | 2.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1930 | 2.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1931 | 2.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1932 | 2.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1933 | 7.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +143.3% |
| 1934 | 12.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +75.3% |
| 1935 | 28.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +132.3% |
| 1936 | 38.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +35.3% |
| 1937 | 55.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +42.5% |
| 1938 | 80.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +45.8% |
| 1939 | 195.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +141.4% |
| 1940 | 348.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +78.3% |
| 1941 | 450.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +29.3% |
| 1942 | 538.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.6% |
| 1943 | 601.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1944 | 681.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1945 | 148.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | -78.3% |
| 1955 | 13.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -90.8% |
| 1956 | 15.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1957 | 16.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1958 | 15.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1959 | 19.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +24.4% |
| 1960 | 22.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1961 | 26.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.8% |
| 1962 | 32.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +23.3% |
| 1963 | 34.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1964 | 35.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 37.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 36.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 36.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 36.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 40.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 40.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 43.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 51.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.8% |
| 1973 | 56.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 58.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 62.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1976 | 62.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 64.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 67.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1979 | 69.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 66.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 61.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 60.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 55.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1984 | 57.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 57.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 64.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1987 | 65.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 64.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 64.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 63.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 60.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 64.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 59.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 61.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 62.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 56.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1997 | 54.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 52.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 47.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 44.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 45.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 44.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 49.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 51.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 51.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 52.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 55.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 54.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 53.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 52.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 53.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 49.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 50.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 49.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 45.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 46.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 52.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 2018 | 55.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 62.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 2020 | 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 9.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Germany's 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$, 25.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | +904.0% | 672.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 6.76 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1914 | +301.5% | 9.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 37.55 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1870 | +250.7% | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.83 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1915 | +199.7% | 37.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 112.54 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1933 | +143.3% | 2.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.08 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1939 | +141.4% | 80.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | 195.51 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 270.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 252.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 289.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1820s | 345.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 298.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 378.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 401.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 348.80 million constant 2022 US$ | 435.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 492.16 million constant 2022 US$ | 463.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 519.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 552.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 485.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 648.61 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 781.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 641.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 55.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | 967.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 142.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | 672.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 6.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 42.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | 195.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 461.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 148.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 681.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6 |
| 1950s | 16.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | 19.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5 |
| 1960s | 33.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 22.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 40.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 57.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 40.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 69.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 55.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | 66.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 58.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 47.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 64.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | 44.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 55.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | 45.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | 62.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 7 France 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 8 Ukraine 62.62 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 9 Japan 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 11 South Korea 57.02 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 12 Italy 41.14 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 13 Australia 38.94 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Germany?
- Military spending in Germany was 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2020, 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 681.50 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 252.73 million constant 2022 US$ in 1818.
- How does Germany rank for military spending?
- Germany ranks 10th out of 172 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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 — 196 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.