Military spending in Japan
Japan: Military spending was 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
62.31 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 5.6%
World rank
9th
of 172 countries
All-time high
225.80 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1944
All-time low
32.89 million constant 2022 US$
in 1865
Years of data
158
1860–2023
Military spending in Japan, 1860–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Japan recorded 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
The figure is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Japan peaked at 225.80 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944 and was at its lowest, 32.89 million constant 2022 US$, in 1865.
Japan ranks 9th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Japan, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 52.70 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1861 | 48.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1862 | 42.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1863 | 39.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1864 | 40.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1865 | 32.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.6% |
| 1866 | 34.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1867 | 37.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1868 | 75.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +101.2% |
| 1869 | 68.80 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.4% |
| 1870 | 56.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.6% |
| 1871 | 74.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.8% |
| 1872 | 150.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +101.7% |
| 1873 | 198.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.8% |
| 1874 | 207.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1875 | 212.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1876 | 228.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1877 | 154.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -32.5% |
| 1878 | 179.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1879 | 185.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 186.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1881 | 195.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1882 | 217.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1883 | 226.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1884 | 258.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1885 | 265.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1886 | 333.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.6% |
| 1887 | 337.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 377.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1889 | 396.32 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1890 | 444.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1891 | 371.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.3% |
| 1892 | 347.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1893 | 332.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1894 | 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +380.8% |
| 1895 | 1.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.2% |
| 1896 | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 1.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1898 | 1.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1900 | 1.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1901 | 1.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1902 | 1.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1903 | 1.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1904 | 7.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +399.7% |
| 1905 | 5.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | -28.7% |
| 1906 | 4.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | -22.7% |
| 1907 | 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -26.5% |
| 1908 | 2.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 1909 | 2.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1910 | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1911 | 2.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1912 | 2.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1913 | 2.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1914 | 2.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1915 | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1916 | 2.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1917 | 3.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.4% |
| 1918 | 5.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +84.2% |
| 1919 | 5.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.3% |
| 1920 | 4.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.7% |
| 1921 | 4.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1922 | 4.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.6% |
| 1923 | 3.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.7% |
| 1924 | 3.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.5% |
| 1925 | 2.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1926 | 3.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1927 | 3.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 3.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1929 | 3.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1930 | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1931 | 3.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1932 | 3.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1933 | 3.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.5% |
| 1934 | 4.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +30.7% |
| 1935 | 4.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1936 | 4.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1937 | 14.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +205.5% |
| 1938 | 29.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +102.1% |
| 1939 | 27.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1940 | 30.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.4% |
| 1941 | 46.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +51.7% |
| 1942 | 66.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +41.4% |
| 1943 | 92.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +39.8% |
| 1944 | 225.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +144.1% |
| 1945 | 45.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -79.7% |
| 1952 | 3.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | -91.5% |
| 1953 | 4.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1954 | 4.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.7% |
| 1955 | 3.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1956 | 3.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 3.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 3.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 3.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1960 | 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1961 | 4.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1962 | 4.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1963 | 4.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 1965 | 6.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.0% |
| 1966 | 7.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1967 | 7.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1968 | 8.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.7% |
| 1969 | 10.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.2% |
| 1970 | 10.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1971 | 13.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.9% |
| 1972 | 15.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.7% |
| 1973 | 15.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 17.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1975 | 18.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 19.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 21.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.6% |
| 1978 | 24.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.9% |
| 1979 | 26.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 25.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 25.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 28.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.6% |
| 1983 | 29.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 33.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1985 | 37.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1986 | 46.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.0% |
| 1987 | 52.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1988 | 52.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 53.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 53.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 56.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1992 | 65.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.8% |
| 1993 | 68.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 68.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 70.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 66.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 66.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 60.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 63.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 63.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 61.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 60.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 61.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 61.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 56.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 54.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 55.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 54.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 59.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 61.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 65.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 63.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 56.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 52.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 51.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 51.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 57.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 57.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 62.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 62.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 60.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 59.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 9.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Japan's 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.15 billion constant 2022 US$, 15.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | +399.7% | 1.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.94 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1894 | +380.8% | 332.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1937 | +205.5% | 4.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | 14.48 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1944 | +144.1% | 92.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | 225.80 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1938 | +102.1% | 14.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | 29.26 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1868 | +101.2% | 37.31 million constant 2022 US$ | 75.07 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 47.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 32.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 75.07 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 164.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 56.68 million constant 2022 US$ | 228.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 279.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 186.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 396.32 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 332.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 3.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 29.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 84.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 30.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 225.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6 |
| 1950s | 3.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8 |
| 1960s | 6.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | 26.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | 25.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 53.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 64.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 53.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 70.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 54.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | 63.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 51.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 65.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 59.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 62.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 6 United Kingdom 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 7 France 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 8 Ukraine 62.62 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 10 Germany 62.28 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 11 South Korea 57.02 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 12 Italy 41.14 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Japan?
- Military spending in Japan was 62.31 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 225.80 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.89 million constant 2022 US$ in 1865.
- How does Japan rank for military spending?
- Japan ranks 9th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 158 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.