Military spending in Mexico
Mexico: Military spending was 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
12.06 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
28th
of 172 countries
All-time high
12.06 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2023
All-time low
124.59 million constant 2022 US$
in 1831
Years of data
193
1831–2023
Military spending in Mexico, 1831–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Mexico stood at 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$. That is the highest value across all 193 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 78.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Mexico peaked at 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 124.59 million constant 2022 US$, in 1831.
That places Mexico 28th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Mexico, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 | 124.59 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1832 | 132.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1833 | 137.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1834 | 139.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1835 | 137.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1836 | 129.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1837 | 138.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1838 | 149.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1839 | 153.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1840 | 175.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1841 | 185.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1842 | 204.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1843 | 218.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1844 | 229.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1845 | 227.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1846 | 719.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +216.0% |
| 1847 | 704.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1848 | 776.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1849 | 780.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1850 | 748.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1851 | 737.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1852 | 808.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1853 | 787.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1854 | 757.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1855 | 800.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1856 | 766.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1857 | 745.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1858 | 794.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1859 | 821.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1860 | 791.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1861 | 705.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.9% |
| 1862 | 662.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1863 | 583.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.9% |
| 1864 | 606.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1865 | 219.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -63.8% |
| 1866 | 223.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1867 | 209.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1868 | 204.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1869 | 195.09 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1870 | 175.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1871 | 188.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1872 | 198.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1873 | 233.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.7% |
| 1874 | 224.25 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1875 | 250.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1876 | 223.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.8% |
| 1877 | 210.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1878 | 207.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1879 | 198.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1880 | 191.29 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1881 | 189.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1882 | 194.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1883 | 205.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1884 | 220.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1885 | 223.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1886 | 268.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.1% |
| 1887 | 265.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1888 | 293.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1889 | 320.39 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1890 | 338.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1891 | 302.72 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1892 | 320.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1893 | 284.40 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1894 | 268.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1895 | 247.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 1896 | 193.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.6% |
| 1897 | 179.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.4% |
| 1898 | 177.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1899 | 137.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.6% |
| 1900 | 189.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +37.7% |
| 1901 | 181.24 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1902 | 193.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1903 | 190.21 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1904 | 203.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1905 | 207.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1906 | 212.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1907 | 217.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1908 | 231.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1909 | 256.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1910 | 231.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.7% |
| 1911 | 245.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1912 | 323.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +32.0% |
| 1913 | 536.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +65.8% |
| 1914 | 430.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.8% |
| 1915 | 461.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1916 | 444.84 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1917 | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +153.1% |
| 1918 | 937.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.8% |
| 1919 | 901.74 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1920 | 725.21 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.6% |
| 1921 | 875.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.7% |
| 1922 | 885.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1923 | 744.61 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.9% |
| 1924 | 589.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -20.9% |
| 1925 | 649.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1926 | 573.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.7% |
| 1927 | 554.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1928 | 636.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1929 | 543.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.6% |
| 1930 | 482.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.3% |
| 1931 | 431.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1932 | 351.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.5% |
| 1933 | 301.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.1% |
| 1934 | 336.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1935 | 318.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1936 | 335.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1937 | 329.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1938 | 372.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1939 | 345.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.4% |
| 1940 | 368.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1941 | 382.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1942 | 385.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1943 | 404.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1944 | 453.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1945 | 547.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.8% |
| 1946 | 553.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1947 | 536.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1948 | 531.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1949 | 522.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1950 | 442.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.2% |
| 1951 | 429.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1952 | 490.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.2% |
| 1953 | 485.05 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1954 | 448.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.4% |
| 1955 | 447.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1956 | 513.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.7% |
| 1957 | 581.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.2% |
| 1958 | 618.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1959 | 568.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1960 | 612.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1961 | 719.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.5% |
| 1962 | 786.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1963 | 862.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1964 | 951.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1965 | 1.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 1.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1967 | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 1.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 1.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1970 | 1.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 1.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 1.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1973 | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1974 | 1.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 2.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.6% |
| 1976 | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 1.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.7% |
| 1978 | 1.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1980 | 2.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.4% |
| 1981 | 2.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.2% |
| 1982 | 2.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.8% |
| 1983 | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1984 | 2.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.5% |
| 1986 | 2.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.4% |
| 1987 | 2.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 2.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 2.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 1.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 2.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 2.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +33.1% |
| 1993 | 3.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.9% |
| 1994 | 3.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1995 | 3.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 4.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1997 | 4.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 4.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 5.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 5.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 5.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 5.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 4.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.9% |
| 2004 | 4.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 4.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 4.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 5.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 2008 | 5.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 5.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 5.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 6.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 6.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 6.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 2014 | 7.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 6.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 6.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 6.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 6.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 8.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2020 | 8.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 10.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 2022 | 11.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 9.6× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 509.92 million constant 2022 US$, 23.7× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Mexico changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1846 | +216.0% | 227.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 719.77 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1917 | +153.1% | 444.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1865 | -63.8% | 606.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 219.48 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1913 | +65.8% | 323.80 million constant 2022 US$ | 536.83 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 138.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 124.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 153.76 million constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1840s | 422.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 175.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 780.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 776.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 737.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 821.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 440.12 million constant 2022 US$ | 195.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 791.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 211.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 175.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 250.29 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 237.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 189.07 million constant 2022 US$ | 320.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 245.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 137.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 338.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 208.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 181.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 256.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 563.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 231.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 677.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 543.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 885.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 360.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 301.95 million constant 2022 US$ | 482.16 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 468.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 368.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 553.72 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 502.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 429.82 million constant 2022 US$ | 618.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 953.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 612.42 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 25 Qatar 14.38 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 26 Pakistan 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 27 Colombia 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 29 Indonesia 11.67 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 30 Norway 10.47 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 31 Iran 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Mexico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 13.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 84.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 157.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.55 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Mexico?
- Military spending in Mexico was 12.06 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 124.59 million constant 2022 US$ in 1831.
- How does Mexico rank for military spending?
- Mexico ranks 28th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico 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 — 193 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.