Military spending in Pakistan
Pakistan: Military spending was 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
12.37 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
26th
of 172 countries
All-time high
13.46 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
18.58 million constant 2022 US$
in 1947
Years of data
77
1947–2023
Military spending in Pakistan, 1947–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Pakistan stood at 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 67.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Pakistan peaked at 13.46 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 18.58 million constant 2022 US$, in 1947.
That places Pakistan 26th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 18.58 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1948 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5907.7% |
| 1949 | 2.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +98.4% |
| 1950 | 2.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 1951 | 2.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1952 | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.4% |
| 1953 | 2.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1954 | 1.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.1% |
| 1955 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.6% |
| 1956 | 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1957 | 1.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1958 | 1.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1959 | 1.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1960 | 1.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 1.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 1.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1964 | 1.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1965 | 3.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +79.8% |
| 1966 | 2.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1967 | 2.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.4% |
| 1968 | 2.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 2.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 2.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 2.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 2.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.5% |
| 1973 | 2.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 2.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 2.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1976 | 2.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 3.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 3.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 3.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1980 | 3.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1981 | 3.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 4.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1983 | 4.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 4.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 4.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 4.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 4.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 4.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 4.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 5.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 5.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 5.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1993 | 5.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 5.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 4.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 5.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.3% |
| 1998 | 5.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 4.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.9% |
| 2000 | 4.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 4.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 4.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 5.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 5.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 5.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 5.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 5.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 5.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 6.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 6.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 7.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 7.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 8.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 2015 | 9.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.0% |
| 2016 | 10.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 12.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +24.6% |
| 2018 | 12.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 13.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 13.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 12.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 12.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 25.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 2.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | +5907.7% | 18.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1949 | +98.4% | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.21 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1965 | +79.8% | 1.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.20 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 18.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3 |
| 1950s | 1.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 23 Algeria 16.20 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 24 Singapore 15.39 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 25 Qatar 14.38 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 27 Colombia 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 28 Mexico 12.06 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 29 Indonesia 11.67 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Pakistan?
- Military spending in Pakistan was 12.37 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.46 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.58 million constant 2022 US$ in 1947.
- How does Pakistan rank for military spending?
- Pakistan ranks 26th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.