Military spending in Liberia
Liberia: Military spending was 39.49 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
39.49 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
160th
of 172 countries
All-time high
78.40 million constant 2022 US$
in 1982
All-time low
829,132 constant 2022 US$
in 1933
Years of data
104
1920–2023
Military spending in Liberia, 1920–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Liberia is 39.49 million constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Liberia peaked at 78.40 million constant 2022 US$ in 1982 and was at its lowest, 829,132 constant 2022 US$, in 1933.
That places Liberia 160th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Liberia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 1.75 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1921 | 1.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1922 | 1.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1923 | 1.63 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1924 | 1.53 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1925 | 1.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1926 | 1.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1927 | 1.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 1.52 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1929 | 1.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1930 | 1.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1931 | 1.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.4% |
| 1932 | 1.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1933 | 829,132 constant 2022 US$ | -17.9% |
| 1934 | 1.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.2% |
| 1935 | 1.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 1.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1937 | 1.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1938 | 1.32 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.2% |
| 1939 | 1.28 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1940 | 1.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.4% |
| 1941 | 1.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1942 | 1.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.9% |
| 1943 | 2.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.8% |
| 1944 | 2.64 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.4% |
| 1945 | 3.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +38.2% |
| 1946 | 3.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1947 | 3.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1948 | 3.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1949 | 5.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +39.9% |
| 1950 | 5.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1951 | 5.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1952 | 6.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.8% |
| 1953 | 7.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.0% |
| 1954 | 8.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1955 | 9.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1956 | 11.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.7% |
| 1957 | 12.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1958 | 12.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 10.12 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.0% |
| 1960 | 10.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1961 | 20.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +91.1% |
| 1962 | 21.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1963 | 21.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 18.83 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1965 | 19.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 18.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1967 | 19.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1968 | 18.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1969 | 21.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.6% |
| 1970 | 22.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1971 | 24.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1972 | 21.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.4% |
| 1973 | 18.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.7% |
| 1974 | 17.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 17.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 21.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.4% |
| 1977 | 23.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1978 | 25.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1979 | 27.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 49.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +81.7% |
| 1981 | 74.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +52.2% |
| 1982 | 78.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 60.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.9% |
| 1984 | 62.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 64.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 75.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.1% |
| 1987 | 75.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 75.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 66.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.7% |
| 1990 | 54.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.5% |
| 1991 | 53.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 39.78 million constant 2022 US$ | -25.5% |
| 1993 | 33.55 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.7% |
| 1994 | 61.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +83.5% |
| 1995 | 69.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.6% |
| 1996 | 64.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 62.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 58.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 49.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.4% |
| 2000 | 43.83 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.8% |
| 2001 | 44.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 4.20 million constant 2022 US$ | -90.4% |
| 2003 | 3.40 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.1% |
| 2004 | 3.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 8.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +141.5% |
| 2006 | 7.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 7.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 8.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 2009 | 10.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.8% |
| 2010 | 12.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.3% |
| 2011 | 17.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +42.1% |
| 2012 | 22.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.6% |
| 2013 | 24.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 23.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 19.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.2% |
| 2016 | 16.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.3% |
| 2017 | 18.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 17.88 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 19.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 19.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 31.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +62.9% |
| 2022 | 37.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.8% |
| 2023 | 39.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 39.49 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 10% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 39.49 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 11% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Liberia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +141.5% | 3.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 8.46 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 2002 | -90.4% | 44.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 4.20 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1961 | +91.1% | 10.52 million constant 2022 US$ | 20.10 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1.62 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 829,132 constant 2022 US$ | 1.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 5.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 5.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 12.52 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.88 million constant 2022 US$ | 10.52 million constant 2022 US$ | 21.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 21.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 17.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 68.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 49.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 78.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.80 million constant 2022 US$ | 33.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 69.90 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 44.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 12.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 24.68 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 19.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 39.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
- 157 East Timor 57.24 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 158 Barbados 50.59 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 159 Lesotho 44.77 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 161 Belize 32.73 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 162 Bhutan 31.32 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 163 Guinea-Bissau 29.97 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Liberia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0476 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.229 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.229 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1597 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.183 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2896 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Liberia?
- Military spending in Liberia was 39.49 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 78.40 million constant 2022 US$ in 1982.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 829,132 constant 2022 US$ in 1933.
- How does Liberia rank for military spending?
- Liberia ranks 160th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia 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.