Military spending in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military spending was 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
84.21 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
6th
of 172 countries
All-time high
215.05 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1944
All-time low
948.38 million constant 2022 US$
in 1836
Years of data
208
1816–2023
Military spending in United Kingdom, 1816–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in United Kingdom stood at 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$.
The figure is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in United Kingdom peaked at 215.05 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944 and was at its lowest, 948.38 million constant 2022 US$, in 1836.
That places United Kingdom 6th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1817 | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1818 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1819 | 1.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1820 | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1821 | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 984.72 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1823 | 1.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1824 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1825 | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1828 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1829 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1830 | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1831 | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1832 | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1833 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.7% |
| 1834 | 988.17 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1835 | 986.69 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1836 | 948.38 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1837 | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1838 | 1.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1839 | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1840 | 1.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1841 | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1842 | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 1.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1844 | 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1845 | 1.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1846 | 1.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1847 | 1.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1848 | 2.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.7% |
| 1849 | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1850 | 1.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1851 | 1.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1852 | 1.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1853 | 1.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1854 | 10.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +565.2% |
| 1855 | 4.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -53.4% |
| 1856 | 4.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1857 | 2.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -40.6% |
| 1858 | 2.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1859 | 3.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.0% |
| 1860 | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1861 | 3.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1862 | 3.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1863 | 2.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1864 | 3.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1865 | 2.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -26.6% |
| 1866 | 2.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1867 | 2.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1868 | 2.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1869 | 2.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1870 | 2.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -19.2% |
| 1871 | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1872 | 2.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1873 | 2.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1874 | 2.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1875 | 2.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1876 | 2.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1877 | 2.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1878 | 2.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1879 | 2.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 2.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.6% |
| 1881 | 2.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1882 | 2.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.3% |
| 1883 | 2.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1884 | 3.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1885 | 3.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1886 | 3.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1887 | 3.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1888 | 3.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1889 | 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1890 | 3.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1891 | 3.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1892 | 3.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1893 | 3.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1894 | 4.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1895 | 4.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 1896 | 5.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1897 | 5.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1898 | 5.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1899 | 6.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.9% |
| 1900 | 13.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +110.2% |
| 1901 | 13.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1902 | 11.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.0% |
| 1903 | 9.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.0% |
| 1904 | 8.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1905 | 7.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1906 | 7.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1907 | 6.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 1908 | 6.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 7.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1910 | 7.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 7.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1912 | 7.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1913 | 8.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1914 | 36.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +318.3% |
| 1915 | 104.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +187.1% |
| 1916 | 128.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +23.6% |
| 1917 | 138.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1918 | 103.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -25.5% |
| 1919 | 13.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -86.5% |
| 1920 | 11.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.7% |
| 1921 | 10.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1922 | 9.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1923 | 8.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1924 | 7.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1925 | 7.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1926 | 7.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1927 | 7.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1928 | 7.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1929 | 7.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1930 | 7.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1931 | 7.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1932 | 6.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1933 | 6.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1934 | 9.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +44.1% |
| 1935 | 11.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.9% |
| 1936 | 14.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +26.5% |
| 1937 | 18.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.4% |
| 1938 | 23.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +28.8% |
| 1939 | 133.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +470.7% |
| 1940 | 165.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +23.8% |
| 1941 | 184.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1942 | 197.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1943 | 212.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1944 | 215.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1945 | 202.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1946 | 155.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -23.2% |
| 1947 | 71.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -54.1% |
| 1948 | 40.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -43.5% |
| 1949 | 39.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1950 | 25.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -35.6% |
| 1951 | 29.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.0% |
| 1952 | 43.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +44.7% |
| 1953 | 43.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 42.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 39.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1956 | 42.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1957 | 40.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1958 | 41.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 36.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1960 | 35.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1961 | 38.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1962 | 41.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1963 | 41.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 43.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 42.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 40.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1967 | 42.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 40.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1969 | 36.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1970 | 37.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 40.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1972 | 43.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 43.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1974 | 45.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 43.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 43.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 44.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 46.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 55.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.6% |
| 1980 | 62.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1981 | 59.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1982 | 62.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 62.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 62.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 63.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 68.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 67.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 68.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 66.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 68.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 68.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 66.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 65.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 63.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 59.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 57.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 61.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 59.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 59.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 57.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 57.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 58.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 69.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.1% |
| 2004 | 76.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 78.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 79.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 81.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 77.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 74.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 74.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 70.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 71.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 67.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 66.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 66.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 64.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 67.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 70.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 73.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 75.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 78.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 80.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 12.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$, 34.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1854 | +565.2% | 1.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.05 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1939 | +470.7% | 23.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 133.55 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1914 | +318.3% | 8.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 36.25 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1915 | +187.1% | 36.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 104.08 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1900 | +110.2% | 6.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.90 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1919 | -86.5% | 103.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.97 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1820s | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 984.72 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 948.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 3.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 9.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 55.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 138.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 8.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 11.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 23.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | 133.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 148.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 39.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 215.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 38.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | 25.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 43.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 40.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 35.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 43.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 44.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | 37.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | 55.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | 59.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 68.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 62.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 57.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 68.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | 57.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 81.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 64.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | 74.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 75.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in United Kingdom?
- Military spending in United Kingdom was 84.21 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 215.05 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 948.38 million constant 2022 US$ in 1836.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military spending?
- United Kingdom ranks 6th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.