Military spending in United States
United States: Military spending was 1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
1st
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.13 trillion constant 2022 US$
in 1944
All-time low
126.12 million constant 2022 US$
in 1822
Years of data
208
1816–2023
Military spending in United States, 1816–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in United States stood at 1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in United States peaked at 1.13 trillion constant 2022 US$ in 1944 and was at its lowest, 126.12 million constant 2022 US$, in 1822.
United States ranks 1st of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in United States, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 252.77 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1817 | 186.08 million constant 2022 US$ | -26.4% |
| 1818 | 173.88 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1819 | 158.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1820 | 146.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1821 | 148.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1822 | 126.12 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.1% |
| 1823 | 137.83 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1824 | 146.25 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1825 | 152.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1826 | 171.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1827 | 173.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1828 | 191.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1829 | 208.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1830 | 190.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 1831 | 244.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.0% |
| 1832 | 262.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1833 | 281.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1834 | 273.78 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1835 | 289.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1836 | 283.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1837 | 315.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1838 | 322.47 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 309.63 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1840 | 350.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1841 | 350.63 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1842 | 357.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1843 | 323.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1844 | 365.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1845 | 408.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1846 | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +212.4% |
| 1847 | 820.92 million constant 2022 US$ | -35.6% |
| 1848 | 893.91 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1849 | 706.53 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.0% |
| 1850 | 638.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1851 | 643.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1852 | 662.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1853 | 685.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1854 | 735.31 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1855 | 761.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1856 | 837.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1857 | 817.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1858 | 870.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1859 | 863.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1860 | 924.21 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1861 | 10.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1013.2% |
| 1862 | 16.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +55.9% |
| 1863 | 16.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1864 | 27.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +68.9% |
| 1865 | 2.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | -90.4% |
| 1866 | 2.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1867 | 2.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1868 | 2.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1869 | 1.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.0% |
| 1870 | 1.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -23.6% |
| 1871 | 1.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1872 | 1.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1873 | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1874 | 1.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.7% |
| 1875 | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1876 | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 1.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1878 | 1.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1879 | 1.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1880 | 1.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1881 | 1.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1882 | 1.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1883 | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1884 | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1885 | 1.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1886 | 1.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1887 | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1888 | 1.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1889 | 1.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1890 | 1.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.7% |
| 1891 | 1.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1892 | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1893 | 2.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1894 | 2.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1895 | 2.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1896 | 2.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1897 | 3.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.0% |
| 1898 | 6.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +113.4% |
| 1899 | 5.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1900 | 5.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1901 | 4.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1902 | 5.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1903 | 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1904 | 5.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1905 | 5.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1906 | 5.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1907 | 6.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1908 | 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1909 | 7.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1910 | 6.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1911 | 6.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1912 | 6.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1913 | 7.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1914 | 6.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -18.3% |
| 1915 | 6.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1916 | 6.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1917 | 12.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +98.2% |
| 1918 | 125.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +948.1% |
| 1919 | 108.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.7% |
| 1920 | 17.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -84.1% |
| 1921 | 15.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 1922 | 12.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -19.2% |
| 1923 | 10.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1924 | 8.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | -20.5% |
| 1925 | 8.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1926 | 8.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1927 | 8.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1928 | 9.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1929 | 9.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1930 | 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1931 | 9.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1932 | 10.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1933 | 11.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1934 | 13.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.7% |
| 1935 | 14.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1936 | 15.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1937 | 16.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1938 | 18.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.2% |
| 1939 | 19.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1940 | 22.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1941 | 100.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +353.4% |
| 1942 | 382.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +280.4% |
| 1943 | 980.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +156.2% |
| 1944 | 1.13 trillion constant 2022 US$ | +15.5% |
| 1945 | 848.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -25.1% |
| 1946 | 529.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -37.6% |
| 1947 | 178.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | -66.3% |
| 1948 | 128.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -28.1% |
| 1949 | 146.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1950 | 146.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1951 | 301.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +106.0% |
| 1952 | 462.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +53.6% |
| 1953 | 464.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 419.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.7% |
| 1955 | 369.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.9% |
| 1956 | 411.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1957 | 407.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1958 | 407.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1959 | 378.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1960 | 354.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1961 | 388.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1962 | 387.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 363.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1964 | 395.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1965 | 397.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 463.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.6% |
| 1967 | 522.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 519.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 504.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1970 | 469.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1971 | 428.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.7% |
| 1972 | 426.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 404.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 369.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1975 | 364.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 356.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 364.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 361.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 380.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 389.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 416.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 488.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.1% |
| 1983 | 494.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 539.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 591.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1986 | 608.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 597.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 592.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 596.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 571.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 509.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.7% |
| 1992 | 549.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 527.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1994 | 528.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 498.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 464.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 470.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 481.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 480.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 495.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 538.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 532.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 634.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.3% |
| 2004 | 661.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 692.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 731.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 759.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 776.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 789.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 836.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 844.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 777.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 748.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 712.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 732.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 739.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 770.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 838.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 896.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 989.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 1.00 trillion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 1.04 trillion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 163.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | +1013.2% | 924.21 million constant 2022 US$ | 10.29 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1918 | +948.1% | 12.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 125.87 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1941 | +353.4% | 22.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 100.63 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1942 | +280.4% | 100.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 382.81 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1846 | +212.4% | 408.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1943 | +156.2% | 382.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 980.57 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 192.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 158.82 million constant 2022 US$ | 252.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1820s | 160.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 126.12 million constant 2022 US$ | 208.93 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 277.29 million constant 2022 US$ | 190.91 million constant 2022 US$ | 322.47 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 585.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 323.85 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 751.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 638.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 870.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 924.21 million constant 2022 US$ | 27.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 29.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 125.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 10.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | 17.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 13.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | 19.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 444.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | 22.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.13 trillion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 376.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 146.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 464.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 429.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | 354.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | 522.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 392.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 356.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 469.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 531.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 389.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | 608.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 508.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | 464.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 571.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 661.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | 495.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | 789.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 789.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | 712.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 896.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.02 trillion constant 2022 US$ | 989.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in United States?
- Military spending in United States was 1.06 trillion 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.13 trillion constant 2022 US$ in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 126.12 million constant 2022 US$ in 1822.
- How does United States rank for military spending?
- United States ranks 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.