Military spending in Spain
Spain: Military spending was 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
26.09 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 13.9%
World rank
18th
of 172 countries
All-time high
26.09 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2023
All-time low
107.69 million constant 2022 US$
in 1832
Years of data
208
1816–2023
Military spending in Spain, 1816–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Spain recorded 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023. That is the highest value across all 208 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.9% on the previous year and up 62.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Spain peaked at 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 107.69 million constant 2022 US$, in 1832.
Spain ranks 18th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Spain, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 453.59 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1817 | 387.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1818 | 369.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1819 | 382.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1820 | 394.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1821 | 156.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -60.3% |
| 1822 | 159.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1823 | 165.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1824 | 177.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1825 | 180.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1826 | 191.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1827 | 198.68 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1828 | 204.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1829 | 213.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1830 | 131.05 million constant 2022 US$ | -38.5% |
| 1831 | 113.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1832 | 107.69 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1833 | 121.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1834 | 130.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1835 | 138.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1836 | 131.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1837 | 254.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +92.9% |
| 1838 | 271.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1839 | 338.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.8% |
| 1840 | 312.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1841 | 299.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1842 | 289.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1843 | 275.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 1844 | 257.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1845 | 259.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1846 | 260.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 312.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.1% |
| 1848 | 505.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +61.7% |
| 1849 | 533.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1850 | 528.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1851 | 559.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1852 | 550.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1853 | 555.78 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1854 | 533.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1855 | 551.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1856 | 576.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1857 | 580.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 636.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1859 | 578.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.1% |
| 1860 | 695.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.1% |
| 1861 | 633.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1862 | 626.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1863 | 626.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1864 | 713.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 1865 | 552.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.6% |
| 1866 | 492.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1867 | 523.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1868 | 540.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1869 | 563.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1870 | 513.63 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1871 | 531.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1872 | 697.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.4% |
| 1873 | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +49.5% |
| 1874 | 1.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.1% |
| 1875 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1876 | 784.28 million constant 2022 US$ | -28.0% |
| 1877 | 730.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1878 | 810.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1879 | 763.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1880 | 712.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1881 | 710.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1882 | 741.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1883 | 775.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1884 | 844.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1885 | 848.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 875.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1887 | 858.24 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1888 | 821.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1889 | 841.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1890 | 879.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1891 | 768.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1892 | 782.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 735.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1894 | 699.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1895 | 721.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1896 | 740.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1897 | 720.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1898 | 751.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1899 | 756.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 737.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1901 | 715.49 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1902 | 695.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1903 | 694.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1904 | 685.54 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1905 | 715.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1906 | 701.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1907 | 752.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1908 | 783.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1909 | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +49.0% |
| 1910 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1911 | 1.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1912 | 1.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1913 | 1.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +34.4% |
| 1914 | 1.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1915 | 2.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +27.0% |
| 1916 | 2.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1917 | 2.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1918 | 2.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1919 | 2.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 1920 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1921 | 2.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.5% |
| 1922 | 2.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1923 | 2.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1924 | 1.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 1925 | 2.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1926 | 2.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1927 | 2.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1928 | 2.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1929 | 1.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1930 | 1.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.4% |
| 1931 | 1.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -20.9% |
| 1932 | 1.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.6% |
| 1933 | 995.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1934 | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +54.7% |
| 1935 | 1.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1936 | 2.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +35.5% |
| 1937 | 1.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -42.7% |
| 1938 | 1.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1939 | 1.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1940 | 1.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 1.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1942 | 1.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1943 | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1944 | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.2% |
| 1945 | 1.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1946 | 1.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 1.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1948 | 1.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1949 | 1.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1950 | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -28.9% |
| 1951 | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.4% |
| 1952 | 1.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1953 | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 1.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 1.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 1.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1957 | 1.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1958 | 1.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -22.5% |
| 1959 | 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.3% |
| 1960 | 1.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 1.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1962 | 1.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 1963 | 1.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1964 | 1.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 1965 | 2.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.3% |
| 1966 | 2.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +44.4% |
| 1967 | 3.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +30.4% |
| 1968 | 4.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 4.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 4.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1971 | 5.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +28.9% |
| 1972 | 6.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1973 | 7.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 7.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1975 | 8.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 8.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 8.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 8.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1979 | 10.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.6% |
| 1980 | 10.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 10.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 10.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 10.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 12.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1985 | 12.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 13.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1987 | 14.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 15.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 15.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 15.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 14.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 15.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 14.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 15.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 15.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 14.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 14.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 14.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 14.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 13.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 13.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 14.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 15.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 18.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.6% |
| 2005 | 18.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 19.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 22.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 2008 | 22.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 21.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 19.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 2011 | 18.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 17.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 16.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 16.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 14.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 14.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 16.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.4% |
| 2018 | 18.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 19.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 20.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 22.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 2022 | 22.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.9% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 4.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Spain's 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$, 10.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Spain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1837 | +92.9% | 131.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 254.07 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1821 | -60.3% | 394.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 156.59 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1848 | +61.7% | 312.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 505.63 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1934 | +54.7% | 995.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 398.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 369.94 million constant 2022 US$ | 453.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1820s | 204.07 million constant 2022 US$ | 156.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 394.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 173.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 107.69 million constant 2022 US$ | 338.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 330.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 257.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 533.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 565.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 528.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 636.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 596.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 492.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 713.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 812.42 million constant 2022 US$ | 513.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 802.94 million constant 2022 US$ | 710.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 875.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 755.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 699.07 million constant 2022 US$ | 879.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 764.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 685.54 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 995.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 15.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 14.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 15.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 22.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 14.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 19.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | 20.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 15 Israel 31.61 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 16 Brazil 27.35 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 17 Poland 26.65 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 19 United Arab Emirates 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 20 Taiwan 19.60 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 21 Netherlands 18.59 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Spain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.898 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.06 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 52.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Spain?
- Military spending in Spain was 26.09 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 107.69 million constant 2022 US$ in 1832.
- How does Spain rank for military spending?
- Spain ranks 18th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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 — 208 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.