Military spending in Uganda
Uganda: Military spending was 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.15 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
84th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.15 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2023
All-time low
8.20 million constant 2022 US$
in 1962
Years of data
62
1962–2023
Military spending in Uganda, 1962–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023. That is the highest value across all 62 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 191.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Uganda peaked at 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.20 million constant 2022 US$, in 1962.
Uganda ranks 84th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Uganda, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 8.20 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1963 | 14.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +74.6% |
| 1964 | 45.29 million constant 2022 US$ | +216.4% |
| 1965 | 66.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +46.6% |
| 1966 | 124.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +87.2% |
| 1967 | 129.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1968 | 147.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 169.64 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1970 | 176.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 233.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +32.2% |
| 1972 | 459.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +96.8% |
| 1973 | 365.05 million constant 2022 US$ | -20.5% |
| 1974 | 347.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 334.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1976 | 328.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 341.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 354.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 317.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.2% |
| 1980 | 400.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.9% |
| 1981 | 150.31 million constant 2022 US$ | -62.5% |
| 1982 | 160.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1983 | 147.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 1984 | 115.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.3% |
| 1985 | 113.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 147.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.2% |
| 1987 | 185.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.4% |
| 1988 | 147.52 million constant 2022 US$ | -20.7% |
| 1989 | 135.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1990 | 133.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 133.94 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 131.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 131.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 157.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.4% |
| 1995 | 201.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.0% |
| 1996 | 225.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1997 | 246.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 266.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1999 | 261.24 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 231.28 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 2001 | 230.73 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 237.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 234.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 262.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.9% |
| 2005 | 261.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 274.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 311.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.4% |
| 2008 | 339.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 2009 | 338.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 337.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 347.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 388.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 2013 | 394.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 427.16 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 429.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 487.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 2017 | 523.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 550.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 788.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +43.2% |
| 2020 | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +31.2% |
| 2021 | 1.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 3.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 3.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Uganda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +216.4% | 14.31 million constant 2022 US$ | 45.29 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1972 | +96.8% | 233.31 million constant 2022 US$ | 459.16 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1966 | +87.2% | 66.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 124.27 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1963 | +74.6% | 8.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 14.31 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1981 | -62.5% | 400.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 150.31 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 88.12 million constant 2022 US$ | 8.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 169.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 8 |
| 1970s | 325.74 million constant 2022 US$ | 176.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 459.16 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 170.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 113.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 400.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 188.90 million constant 2022 US$ | 131.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 266.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 272.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 230.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 339.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 467.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 337.68 million constant 2022 US$ | 788.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More reference data data for Uganda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4214 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 29.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 42.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.29 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Uganda?
- Military spending in Uganda was 1.15 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.20 million constant 2022 US$ in 1962.
- How does Uganda rank for military spending?
- Uganda ranks 84th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 191.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 62 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.