Military spending in Jamaica
Jamaica: Military spending was 278.59 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
278.59 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
130th
of 172 countries
All-time high
305.83 million constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
9.63 million constant 2022 US$
in 1962
Years of data
62
1962–2023
Military spending in Jamaica, 1962–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 278.59 million constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 83.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Jamaica peaked at 305.83 million constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 9.63 million constant 2022 US$, in 1962.
That places Jamaica 130th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 9.63 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1963 | 28.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +197.8% |
| 1964 | 32.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1965 | 35.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1966 | 33.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 36.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1968 | 34.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1969 | 31.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.3% |
| 1970 | 38.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.4% |
| 1971 | 42.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1972 | 48.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1973 | 60.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.2% |
| 1974 | 61.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 68.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1976 | 82.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.9% |
| 1977 | 85.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 78.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1979 | 73.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1980 | 70.92 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 80.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1982 | 89.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 81.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1984 | 59.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -27.8% |
| 1985 | 50.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.8% |
| 1986 | 55.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 56.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 59.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 60.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 57.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 50.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 1992 | 53.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 58.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 57.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 56.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 57.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 69.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.8% |
| 1998 | 72.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 73.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 70.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 75.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 83.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 76.52 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 78.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 76.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 86.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 2007 | 116.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +34.7% |
| 2008 | 116.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 108.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 127.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.2% |
| 2011 | 147.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 2012 | 156.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 152.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 139.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 142.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 160.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 187.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.0% |
| 2018 | 264.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +40.9% |
| 2019 | 305.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.5% |
| 2020 | 292.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 279.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 270.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 278.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 278.59 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 22% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 278.59 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 509.92 million constant 2022 US$, 55% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Jamaica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +197.8% | 9.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 28.67 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 9.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 36.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 8 |
| 1970s | 63.97 million constant 2022 US$ | 38.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 85.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 66.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.93 million constant 2022 US$ | 89.85 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.72 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.31 million constant 2022 US$ | 73.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 70.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 116.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 178.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 127.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 305.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 280.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 270.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 292.68 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 127 Togo 314.46 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 128 Lebanon 307.11 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 129 Mauritania 293.81 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 131 North Macedonia 276.30 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 132 Bosnia and Herzegovina 230.14 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 133 Rwanda 218.10 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Jamaica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.045 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1808 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1508 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0583 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.8486 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Jamaica?
- Military spending in Jamaica was 278.59 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 305.83 million constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.63 million constant 2022 US$ in 1962.
- How does Jamaica rank for military spending?
- Jamaica ranks 130th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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 — 62 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.