Military spending in New Zealand
New Zealand: Military spending was 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.61 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
59th
of 172 countries
All-time high
6.55 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1944
All-time low
3.04 million constant 2022 US$
in 1930
Years of data
104
1920–2023
Military spending in New Zealand, 1920–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in New Zealand stood at 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 34.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in New Zealand peaked at 6.55 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944 and was at its lowest, 3.04 million constant 2022 US$, in 1930.
That places New Zealand 59th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 34.73 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1921 | 50.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +44.6% |
| 1922 | 57.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1923 | 55.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1924 | 50.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1925 | 56.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1926 | 58.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 56.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1928 | 3.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -94.1% |
| 1929 | 3.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.7% |
| 1930 | 3.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1931 | 3.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1932 | 3.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1933 | 3.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1934 | 70.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +1932.5% |
| 1935 | 75.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1936 | 91.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.2% |
| 1937 | 115.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.0% |
| 1938 | 140.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.3% |
| 1939 | 113.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.4% |
| 1940 | 156.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +38.6% |
| 1941 | 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1115.0% |
| 1942 | 3.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +68.6% |
| 1943 | 5.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +73.4% |
| 1944 | 6.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.6% |
| 1945 | 3.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | -42.6% |
| 1946 | 2.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -44.5% |
| 1947 | 466.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -77.6% |
| 1948 | 403.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.5% |
| 1949 | 376.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1950 | 341.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1951 | 393.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1952 | 574.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +46.2% |
| 1953 | 647.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1954 | 668.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 605.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1956 | 681.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1957 | 666.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1958 | 713.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1959 | 641.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1960 | 638.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1961 | 650.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 663.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 692.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 758.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1965 | 868.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 1966 | 890.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 849.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1968 | 771.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1969 | 758.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 811.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1971 | 850.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 883.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 882.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 984.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1975 | 931.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1976 | 897.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 882.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 987.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.9% |
| 1979 | 1.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 1.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 1.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 1.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 1.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1987 | 1.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 1.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 1.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 1991 | 1.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1992 | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 1.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 1.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1996 | 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 1.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 1.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 1.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 1.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 1.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 2002 | 1.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 1.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.5% |
| 2004 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 1.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2007 | 1.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 2.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 2011 | 2.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.4% |
| 2012 | 2.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 2.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 2.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2015 | 2.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 2.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 2.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 2.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 3.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 3.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 3.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 56% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.15 billion constant 2022 US$, 87% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | +1932.5% | 3.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 70.17 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1941 | +1115.0% | 156.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1928 | -94.1% | 56.94 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.38 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1947 | -77.6% | 2.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 466.49 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1943 | +73.4% | 3.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.57 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1942 | +68.6% | 1.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.21 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 42.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 58.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 61.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 140.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 156.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 6.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 593.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 341.54 million constant 2022 US$ | 713.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 754.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 638.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 890.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 918.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 811.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 56 Nigeria 4.07 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 57 Azerbaijan 3.76 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 58 South Africa 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 60 Peru 3.56 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 61 Myanmar 3.30 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 62 Syria 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in New Zealand?
- Military spending in New Zealand was 3.61 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 6.55 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.04 million constant 2022 US$ in 1930.
- How does New Zealand rank for military spending?
- New Zealand ranks 59th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 104 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.