Military spending per armed forces personnel in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 2,978 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1985–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 2,978 constant 2024 US$ for military spending per armed forces personnel in 2020.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 89.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 10,771 constant 2024 US$ in 1993 and was at its lowest, 422.38 constant 2024 US$, in 1998.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 153rd out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,659 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 2,216 constant 2024 US$ | +33.6% |
| 1990 | 1,453 constant 2024 US$ | -34.4% |
| 1991 | 1,225 constant 2024 US$ | -15.7% |
| 1992 | 3,116 constant 2024 US$ | +154.4% |
| 1993 | 10,771 constant 2024 US$ | +245.6% |
| 1996 | 2,282 constant 2024 US$ | -78.8% |
| 1997 | 1,585 constant 2024 US$ | -30.5% |
| 1998 | 422.38 constant 2024 US$ | -73.4% |
| 1999 | 1,441 constant 2024 US$ | +241.2% |
| 2000 | 1,072 constant 2024 US$ | -25.6% |
| 2003 | 1,732 constant 2024 US$ | +61.6% |
| 2004 | 4,385 constant 2024 US$ | +153.2% |
| 2005 | 5,058 constant 2024 US$ | +15.4% |
| 2007 | 2,365 constant 2024 US$ | -53.2% |
| 2008 | 1,602 constant 2024 US$ | -32.3% |
| 2009 | 1,153 constant 2024 US$ | -28.0% |
| 2010 | 1,569 constant 2024 US$ | +36.0% |
| 2011 | 2,133 constant 2024 US$ | +36.0% |
| 2012 | 2,945 constant 2024 US$ | +38.1% |
| 2013 | 3,288 constant 2024 US$ | +11.7% |
| 2014 | 2,977 constant 2024 US$ | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 4,259 constant 2024 US$ | +43.0% |
| 2016 | 3,628 constant 2024 US$ | -14.8% |
| 2017 | 2,872 constant 2024 US$ | -20.8% |
| 2018 | 2,468 constant 2024 US$ | -14.1% |
| 2019 | 2,879 constant 2024 US$ | +16.7% |
| 2020 | 2,978 constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 2,978 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,109 constant 2024 US$, 42% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 2,978 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 22% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,938 constant 2024 US$ | 1,659 constant 2024 US$ | 2,216 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 2,787 constant 2024 US$ | 422.38 constant 2024 US$ | 10,771 constant 2024 US$ | 8 |
| 2000s | 2,481 constant 2024 US$ | 1,072 constant 2024 US$ | 5,058 constant 2024 US$ | 7 |
| 2010s | 2,902 constant 2024 US$ | 1,569 constant 2024 US$ | 4,259 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,978 constant 2024 US$ | 2,978 constant 2024 US$ | 2,978 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 220.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,924 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 9.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1,764 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.2179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 3,057 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Democratic Republic of Congo was 2,978 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 10,771 constant 2024 US$ in 1993.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 422.38 constant 2024 US$ in 1998.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 153rd out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. 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.