Military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda
Rwanda: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 4,381 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda is 4,381 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 15.5% on the previous year and up 96.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda peaked at 19,406 constant 2024 US$ in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1,110 constant 2024 US$, in 2002.
Rwanda ranks 146th of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 8,658 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 8,470 constant 2024 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 19,406 constant 2024 US$ | +129.1% |
| 1991 | 5,371 constant 2024 US$ | -72.3% |
| 1992 | 4,411 constant 2024 US$ | -17.9% |
| 1993 | 4,269 constant 2024 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 1,460 constant 2024 US$ | -65.8% |
| 1995 | 1,572 constant 2024 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 2,625 constant 2024 US$ | +67.0% |
| 1997 | 1,559 constant 2024 US$ | -40.6% |
| 1998 | 1,967 constant 2024 US$ | +26.2% |
| 1999 | 2,001 constant 2024 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 1,211 constant 2024 US$ | -39.5% |
| 2001 | 1,189 constant 2024 US$ | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 1,110 constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 1,355 constant 2024 US$ | +22.1% |
| 2004 | 1,361 constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1,316 constant 2024 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 2,033 constant 2024 US$ | +54.4% |
| 2008 | 2,143 constant 2024 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 2,194 constant 2024 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 2,234 constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 2,257 constant 2024 US$ | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 2,217 constant 2024 US$ | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 2,277 constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 2,587 constant 2024 US$ | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 3,038 constant 2024 US$ | +17.4% |
| 2016 | 3,224 constant 2024 US$ | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 3,369 constant 2024 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 3,604 constant 2024 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 3,793 constant 2024 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 4,381 constant 2024 US$ | +15.5% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 4,381 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,109 constant 2024 US$, 62% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 4,381 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 33% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +129.1% | 8,470 constant 2024 US$ | 19,406 constant 2024 US$ |
| 1991 | -72.3% | 19,406 constant 2024 US$ | 5,371 constant 2024 US$ |
| 1994 | -65.8% | 4,269 constant 2024 US$ | 1,460 constant 2024 US$ |
| 1996 | +67.0% | 1,572 constant 2024 US$ | 2,625 constant 2024 US$ |
| 2007 | +54.4% | 1,316 constant 2024 US$ | 2,033 constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8,564 constant 2024 US$ | 8,470 constant 2024 US$ | 8,658 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 4,464 constant 2024 US$ | 1,460 constant 2024 US$ | 19,406 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,546 constant 2024 US$ | 1,110 constant 2024 US$ | 2,194 constant 2024 US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,860 constant 2024 US$ | 2,217 constant 2024 US$ | 3,793 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,381 constant 2024 US$ | 4,381 constant 2024 US$ | 4,381 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 143 Central African Republic 4,842 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 144 Madagascar 4,523 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 145 Gambia 4,400 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 147 Nepal 4,320 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 148 Sierra Leone 4,236 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 149 Djibouti 3,979 constant 2024 US$ compare
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Rwanda was 4,381 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 19,406 constant 2024 US$ in 1990.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,110 constant 2024 US$ in 2002.
- How does Rwanda rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Rwanda ranks 146th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.