Military spending in Switzerland
Switzerland: Military spending was 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
7.40 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
39th
of 172 countries
All-time high
7.40 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2023
All-time low
8.01 million constant 2022 US$
in 1853
Years of data
208
1816–2023
Military spending in Switzerland, 1816–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Switzerland stood at 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$. That is the highest value across all 208 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.1% on the previous year and up 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Switzerland peaked at 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.01 million constant 2022 US$, in 1853.
Switzerland ranks 39th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 18.25 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1817 | 15.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.5% |
| 1818 | 14.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1819 | 14.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 14.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 16.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1822 | 16.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1823 | 16.62 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1824 | 16.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 15.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 1826 | 15.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 14.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1828 | 14.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1829 | 16.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1830 | 14.71 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.2% |
| 1831 | 17.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1832 | 16.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1833 | 16.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1834 | 14.21 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1835 | 15.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1836 | 12.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.7% |
| 1837 | 12.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1838 | 12.19 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1839 | 11.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1840 | 12.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1841 | 12.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1842 | 12.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 12.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1844 | 12.36 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1845 | 12.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1846 | 11.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 1847 | 10.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1848 | 10.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1849 | 10.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1850 | 9.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.9% |
| 1851 | 8.89 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1852 | 8.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1853 | 8.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1854 | 8.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1855 | 8.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1856 | 9.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1857 | 9.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1858 | 12.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +34.1% |
| 1859 | 17.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +39.0% |
| 1860 | 18.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1861 | 17.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1862 | 18.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1863 | 17.78 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1864 | 19.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1865 | 16.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.3% |
| 1866 | 15.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1867 | 12.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.2% |
| 1868 | 12.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1869 | 11.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1870 | 10.24 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1871 | 11.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1872 | 13.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.5% |
| 1873 | 16.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.8% |
| 1874 | 19.32 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.5% |
| 1875 | 41.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +112.3% |
| 1876 | 57.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +40.2% |
| 1877 | 60.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1878 | 68.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.2% |
| 1879 | 65.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1880 | 62.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1881 | 66.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1882 | 72.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1883 | 75.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1884 | 81.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1885 | 80.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1886 | 88.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1887 | 88.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 100.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1889 | 116.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.2% |
| 1890 | 143.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.0% |
| 1891 | 140.22 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1892 | 141.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 135.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.7% |
| 1894 | 132.25 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1895 | 134.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1896 | 132.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1897 | 130.58 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1898 | 142.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1899 | 145.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1900 | 145.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1901 | 143.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1902 | 153.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1903 | 147.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1904 | 151.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1905 | 163.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1906 | 168.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1907 | 178.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1908 | 173.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1909 | 194.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.9% |
| 1910 | 187.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1911 | 184.00 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1912 | 182.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1913 | 170.53 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1914 | 91.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -46.1% |
| 1915 | 105.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1916 | 106.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1917 | 108.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 121.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.3% |
| 1919 | 117.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1920 | 112.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1921 | 157.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +40.0% |
| 1922 | 191.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.1% |
| 1923 | 189.12 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1924 | 189.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 214.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.4% |
| 1926 | 222.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1927 | 235.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1928 | 243.81 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1929 | 246.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 267.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1931 | 264.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1932 | 303.71 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 1933 | 321.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1934 | 438.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +36.4% |
| 1935 | 488.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1936 | 488.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 480.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1938 | 562.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.2% |
| 1939 | 654.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.2% |
| 1940 | 778.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.0% |
| 1941 | 873.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1942 | 895.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1943 | 945.74 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1944 | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1945 | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1946 | 1.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.0% |
| 1947 | 1.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1948 | 995.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1949 | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +31.5% |
| 1950 | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1951 | 1.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1952 | 1.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.0% |
| 1953 | 1.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1954 | 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1955 | 1.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1956 | 1.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1957 | 1.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1958 | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1959 | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 1960 | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1961 | 2.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1962 | 2.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1963 | 2.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1964 | 2.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1965 | 2.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 3.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1968 | 3.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 3.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 3.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 3.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1972 | 3.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1973 | 4.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 4.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 4.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 4.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 4.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 5.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1979 | 5.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 5.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 1981 | 4.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 5.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1983 | 5.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 5.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 5.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 6.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1987 | 6.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 7.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 7.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 7.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 7.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 7.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 6.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 6.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 7.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 6.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 6.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1998 | 5.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1999 | 5.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 4.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 4.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 4.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 5.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 5.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 4.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.7% |
| 2006 | 4.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 4.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2009 | 4.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 5.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 5.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 5.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 5.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 5.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 5.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 5.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 6.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.1% |
| 2018 | 6.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 6.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 7.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 6.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 6.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$, 3.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | +112.3% | 19.32 million constant 2022 US$ | 41.02 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1914 | -46.1% | 170.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 91.96 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 15.88 million constant 2022 US$ | 14.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 18.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1820s | 15.78 million constant 2022 US$ | 14.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 16.76 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 14.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 11.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 17.12 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 11.76 million constant 2022 US$ | 10.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 12.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 10.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 8.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 17.21 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 15.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 11.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 19.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 36.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 10.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 68.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 83.29 million constant 2022 US$ | 62.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 116.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 137.83 million constant 2022 US$ | 130.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 145.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 161.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 143.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 194.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 137.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 91.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 187.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 200.21 million constant 2022 US$ | 112.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 246.29 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 427.04 million constant 2022 US$ | 264.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 654.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 778.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Switzerland?
- Military spending in Switzerland was 7.40 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.01 million constant 2022 US$ in 1853.
- How does Switzerland rank for military spending?
- Switzerland ranks 39th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.