Military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan
Japan: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 150,681 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan, 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$.
Analysis
In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan stood at 150,681 constant 2024 US$.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan peaked at 151,984 constant 2024 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 109,797 constant 2024 US$, in 1985.
That places Japan 26th out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 109,797 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 128,709 constant 2024 US$ | +17.2% |
| 1990 | 133,391 constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 136,760 constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 143,404 constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 142,825 constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 148,292 constant 2024 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 139,659 constant 2024 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 144,498 constant 2024 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 145,663 constant 2024 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 141,819 constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 141,081 constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 145,185 constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 145,734 constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 146,460 constant 2024 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 146,645 constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 146,700 constant 2024 US$ | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 135,129 constant 2024 US$ | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 143,995 constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 147,996 constant 2024 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 146,572 constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 138,776 constant 2024 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 139,273 constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 141,316 constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 139,757 constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 139,179 constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 140,669 constant 2024 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 143,140 constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 141,695 constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 140,698 constant 2024 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 147,696 constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 151,984 constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 150,681 constant 2024 US$ | -0.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 150,681 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 131,220 constant 2024 US$, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Japan's 150,681 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23,831 constant 2024 US$, 6.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 119,253 constant 2024 US$ | 109,797 constant 2024 US$ | 128,709 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 141,739 constant 2024 US$ | 133,391 constant 2024 US$ | 148,292 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 144,319 constant 2024 US$ | 135,129 constant 2024 US$ | 147,996 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 142,541 constant 2024 US$ | 139,179 constant 2024 US$ | 151,984 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 150,681 constant 2024 US$ | 150,681 constant 2024 US$ | 150,681 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Japan was 150,681 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 151,984 constant 2024 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 109,797 constant 2024 US$ in 1985.
- How does Japan rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Japan ranks 26th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
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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.