Military spending in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Military spending was 110.71 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
110.71 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 10.0%
World rank
147th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.18 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1986
All-time low
928,510 constant 2022 US$
in 1922
Years of data
124
1900–2023
Military spending in Nicaragua, 1900–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Nicaragua is 110.71 million constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Nicaragua peaked at 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1986 and was at its lowest, 928,510 constant 2022 US$, in 1922.
Nicaragua ranks 147th of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 15.60 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1901 | 14.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1902 | 14.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1903 | 14.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1904 | 13.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1905 | 11.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.4% |
| 1906 | 11.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1907 | 9.55 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.1% |
| 1908 | 9.16 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1909 | 8.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1910 | 7.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1911 | 6.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.4% |
| 1912 | 5.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 1913 | 5.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1914 | 3.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -33.6% |
| 1915 | 3.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1916 | 3.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.2% |
| 1917 | 2.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -25.2% |
| 1918 | 2.05 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.9% |
| 1919 | 1.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -28.4% |
| 1920 | 1.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -30.8% |
| 1921 | 1.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1922 | 928,510 constant 2022 US$ | -10.7% |
| 1923 | 1.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 1924 | 1.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1925 | 1.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.4% |
| 1926 | 1.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1927 | 1.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1928 | 1.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1929 | 1.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.6% |
| 1930 | 1.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1931 | 1.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1932 | 1.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.9% |
| 1933 | 1.20 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1934 | 1.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.2% |
| 1935 | 1.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1936 | 1.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1937 | 1.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1938 | 2.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +139.2% |
| 1939 | 3.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +40.8% |
| 1940 | 5.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +39.4% |
| 1941 | 7.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.8% |
| 1942 | 8.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +22.9% |
| 1943 | 9.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.4% |
| 1944 | 12.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.7% |
| 1945 | 32.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +160.0% |
| 1946 | 47.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +45.4% |
| 1947 | 57.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +22.8% |
| 1948 | 72.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.7% |
| 1949 | 100.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +39.0% |
| 1950 | 115.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.4% |
| 1951 | 107.55 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.9% |
| 1952 | 111.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 114.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 110.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1955 | 102.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1956 | 83.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.5% |
| 1957 | 63.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -24.3% |
| 1958 | 51.29 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.7% |
| 1959 | 48.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1960 | 50.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 52.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 56.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1963 | 57.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 59.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 63.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 63.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 69.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1968 | 67.20 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1969 | 67.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 69.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 73.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 65.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.3% |
| 1973 | 67.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 73.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1975 | 88.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.5% |
| 1976 | 99.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1977 | 104.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 109.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 91.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.1% |
| 1980 | 113.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.4% |
| 1981 | 213.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +89.1% |
| 1982 | 457.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +114.0% |
| 1983 | 590.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.1% |
| 1984 | 909.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +54.0% |
| 1985 | 973.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.0% |
| 1987 | 380.55 million constant 2022 US$ | -67.7% |
| 1988 | 261.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -31.4% |
| 1989 | 266.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 675.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +153.6% |
| 1991 | 176.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -73.8% |
| 1992 | 142.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.4% |
| 1993 | 109.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -23.0% |
| 1994 | 71.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -34.8% |
| 1995 | 63.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 1996 | 56.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1997 | 52.76 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 48.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 42.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.3% |
| 2000 | 45.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2001 | 46.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 47.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 46.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 47.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 45.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 45.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 46.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 50.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 50.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 55.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 63.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 76.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.2% |
| 2013 | 88.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2014 | 95.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 91.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 87.92 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 103.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.0% |
| 2018 | 101.19 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 103.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 100.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 100.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 100.66 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 110.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 110.71 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 23% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 110.71 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 509.92 million constant 2022 US$, 22% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Nicaragua changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | +160.0% | 12.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 32.36 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1990 | +153.6% | 266.31 million constant 2022 US$ | 675.36 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1938 | +139.2% | 1.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.81 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1982 | +114.0% | 213.92 million constant 2022 US$ | 457.74 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1981 | +89.1% | 113.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 213.92 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 12.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 8.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 15.60 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 7.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 928,510 constant 2022 US$ | 1.60 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 35.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 5.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 100.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 90.76 million constant 2022 US$ | 48.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 115.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 60.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.16 million constant 2022 US$ | 69.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 84.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 65.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 109.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 534.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 113.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 143.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 42.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 675.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 45.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 50.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 55.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 103.76 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 100.11 million constant 2022 US$ | 110.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 144 Malta 118.50 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 145 Bahamas 118.22 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 146 Papua New Guinea 116.43 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 148 Guyana 106.79 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 149 Eritrea 96.47 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 150 Eswatini 91.46 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Nicaragua
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4575 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0819 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.4557 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4457 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Nicaragua?
- Military spending in Nicaragua was 110.71 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1986.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 928,510 constant 2022 US$ in 1922.
- How does Nicaragua rank for military spending?
- Nicaragua ranks 147th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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 — 124 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.