Military spending in Somalia
Somalia: Military spending was 149.19 million constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
149.19 million constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 10.1%
World rank
138th
of 172 countries
All-time high
227.10 million constant 2022 US$
in 1979
All-time low
15.73 million constant 2022 US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending in Somalia, 1960–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 149.19 million constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
That represents a change of up 10.1% on the previous year and up 207.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Somalia peaked at 227.10 million constant 2022 US$ in 1979 and was at its lowest, 15.73 million constant 2022 US$, in 1960.
That places Somalia 138th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Somalia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 15.73 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 21.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +39.2% |
| 1962 | 29.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +32.6% |
| 1963 | 31.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1964 | 37.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.8% |
| 1965 | 40.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1966 | 45.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1967 | 51.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1968 | 54.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1969 | 58.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 66.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1971 | 70.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 75.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 83.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1974 | 88.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 83.37 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1976 | 89.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1977 | 100.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1978 | 209.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +108.5% |
| 1979 | 227.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 217.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1981 | 198.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1982 | 184.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 155.25 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.0% |
| 1984 | 136.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.8% |
| 1985 | 117.30 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.3% |
| 1986 | 93.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.9% |
| 1987 | 79.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.5% |
| 1988 | 86.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 26.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -69.6% |
| 1990 | 28.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 27.83 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 28.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 28.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 27.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 66.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +143.6% |
| 1996 | 61.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 1997 | 58.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 62.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 61.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 60.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 60.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 60.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 62.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 60.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 55.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 54.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 54.64 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 53.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 49.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 50.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 52.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 47.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 2013 | 48.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 58.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 2015 | 60.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 65.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 79.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.2% |
| 2018 | 84.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 103.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.7% |
| 2020 | 120.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 124.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 135.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 149.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 149.19 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 38% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 149.19 million constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 43% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Somalia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +143.6% | 27.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 66.96 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1978 | +108.5% | 100.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 209.54 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1989 | -69.6% | 86.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 26.32 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 38.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 15.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 58.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 109.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 66.69 million constant 2022 US$ | 227.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 129.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 26.32 million constant 2022 US$ | 217.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 66.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 49.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 62.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 47.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 103.40 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 132.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 120.54 million constant 2022 US$ | 149.19 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 135 Tajikistan 177.78 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 136 Cuba 155.63 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 137 Mongolia 153.56 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 139 Malawi 142.12 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 140 Benin 140.87 million constant 2022 US$ compare
- 141 Burundi 136.95 million constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 1,290 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8842 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.4444 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 11,378 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 3.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 40,976 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 42.94 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Somalia?
- Military spending in Somalia was 149.19 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 227.10 million constant 2022 US$ in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.73 million constant 2022 US$ in 1960.
- How does Somalia rank for military spending?
- Somalia ranks 138th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 207.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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 — 64 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.