Military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana
Ghana: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 14,845 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana, 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$.
Analysis
In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana stood at 14,845 constant 2024 US$.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 148.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana peaked at 17,078 constant 2024 US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1,471 constant 2024 US$, in 1989.
That places Ghana 108th out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2,511 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 1,471 constant 2024 US$ | -41.4% |
| 1990 | 2,811 constant 2024 US$ | +91.0% |
| 1991 | 4,027 constant 2024 US$ | +43.3% |
| 1992 | 5,623 constant 2024 US$ | +39.6% |
| 1993 | 6,576 constant 2024 US$ | +17.0% |
| 1994 | 7,157 constant 2024 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 3,994 constant 2024 US$ | -44.2% |
| 1996 | 2,971 constant 2024 US$ | -25.6% |
| 1997 | 5,399 constant 2024 US$ | +81.7% |
| 1998 | 6,716 constant 2024 US$ | +24.4% |
| 1999 | 7,622 constant 2024 US$ | +13.5% |
| 2000 | 9,534 constant 2024 US$ | +25.1% |
| 2001 | 6,435 constant 2024 US$ | -32.5% |
| 2002 | 7,440 constant 2024 US$ | +15.6% |
| 2003 | 9,030 constant 2024 US$ | +21.4% |
| 2004 | 8,402 constant 2024 US$ | -7.0% |
| 2005 | 8,354 constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 6,846 constant 2024 US$ | -18.1% |
| 2008 | 5,993 constant 2024 US$ | -12.5% |
| 2009 | 6,291 constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 5,975 constant 2024 US$ | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 11,107 constant 2024 US$ | +85.9% |
| 2012 | 17,078 constant 2024 US$ | +53.8% |
| 2013 | 12,582 constant 2024 US$ | -26.3% |
| 2014 | 16,827 constant 2024 US$ | +33.7% |
| 2015 | 13,459 constant 2024 US$ | -20.0% |
| 2016 | 10,169 constant 2024 US$ | -24.4% |
| 2017 | 11,258 constant 2024 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 13,190 constant 2024 US$ | +17.2% |
| 2019 | 14,538 constant 2024 US$ | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 14,845 constant 2024 US$ | +2.1% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 14,845 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, 93% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 14,845 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,991 constant 2024 US$ | 1,471 constant 2024 US$ | 2,511 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 5,290 constant 2024 US$ | 2,811 constant 2024 US$ | 7,622 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,592 constant 2024 US$ | 5,993 constant 2024 US$ | 9,534 constant 2024 US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 12,618 constant 2024 US$ | 5,975 constant 2024 US$ | 17,078 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,845 constant 2024 US$ | 14,845 constant 2024 US$ | 14,845 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Ghana was 14,845 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 17,078 constant 2024 US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,471 constant 2024 US$ in 1989.
- How does Ghana rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Ghana ranks 108th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 148.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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.