Military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria
Nigeria: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 6,824 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria, 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$.
Analysis
In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria stood at 6,824 constant 2024 US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.7% on the previous year and down 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria peaked at 9,720 constant 2024 US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2,471 constant 2024 US$, in 1989.
Nigeria ranks 135th of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 5,972 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 2,471 constant 2024 US$ | -58.6% |
| 1990 | 4,646 constant 2024 US$ | +88.0% |
| 1991 | 4,454 constant 2024 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 4,739 constant 2024 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 6,406 constant 2024 US$ | +35.2% |
| 1994 | 4,270 constant 2024 US$ | -33.3% |
| 1995 | 4,417 constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 3,746 constant 2024 US$ | -15.2% |
| 1997 | 3,355 constant 2024 US$ | -10.4% |
| 1998 | 4,283 constant 2024 US$ | +27.7% |
| 1999 | 6,255 constant 2024 US$ | +46.0% |
| 2000 | 5,624 constant 2024 US$ | -10.1% |
| 2001 | 5,315 constant 2024 US$ | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 8,023 constant 2024 US$ | +50.9% |
| 2003 | 4,939 constant 2024 US$ | -38.4% |
| 2004 | 4,826 constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 4,235 constant 2024 US$ | -12.3% |
| 2006 | 4,387 constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 5,095 constant 2024 US$ | +16.1% |
| 2008 | 7,156 constant 2024 US$ | +40.5% |
| 2009 | 7,437 constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 8,731 constant 2024 US$ | +17.4% |
| 2011 | 9,720 constant 2024 US$ | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 8,563 constant 2024 US$ | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 8,231 constant 2024 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 7,484 constant 2024 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 5,914 constant 2024 US$ | -21.0% |
| 2016 | 5,710 constant 2024 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 5,081 constant 2024 US$ | -11.0% |
| 2018 | 5,779 constant 2024 US$ | +13.7% |
| 2019 | 5,301 constant 2024 US$ | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 6,824 constant 2024 US$ | +28.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 6,824 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, 43% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 6,824 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 51% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,222 constant 2024 US$ | 2,471 constant 2024 US$ | 5,972 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 4,657 constant 2024 US$ | 3,355 constant 2024 US$ | 6,406 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,704 constant 2024 US$ | 4,235 constant 2024 US$ | 8,023 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,052 constant 2024 US$ | 5,081 constant 2024 US$ | 9,720 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,824 constant 2024 US$ | 6,824 constant 2024 US$ | 6,824 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Nigeria was 6,824 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 9,720 constant 2024 US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,471 constant 2024 US$ in 1989.
- How does Nigeria rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Nigeria ranks 135th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.