Military spending per armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 5,355 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka, 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$.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 5,355 constant 2024 US$ for military spending per armed forces personnel in 2020.
The figure is down 6.9% on the previous year and down 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka peaked at 29,972 constant 2024 US$ in 1985 and was at its lowest, 4,550 constant 2024 US$, in 2003.
That places Sri Lanka 142nd out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 29,972 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 17,561 constant 2024 US$ | -41.4% |
| 1990 | 23,905 constant 2024 US$ | +36.1% |
| 1991 | 6,527 constant 2024 US$ | -72.7% |
| 1992 | 7,313 constant 2024 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1993 | 7,834 constant 2024 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 9,100 constant 2024 US$ | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 7,154 constant 2024 US$ | -21.4% |
| 1996 | 6,991 constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 6,148 constant 2024 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1998 | 6,504 constant 2024 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 6,043 constant 2024 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 8,667 constant 2024 US$ | +43.4% |
| 2001 | 7,029 constant 2024 US$ | -18.9% |
| 2002 | 4,945 constant 2024 US$ | -29.6% |
| 2003 | 4,550 constant 2024 US$ | -8.0% |
| 2004 | 5,110 constant 2024 US$ | +12.3% |
| 2005 | 5,651 constant 2024 US$ | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 6,127 constant 2024 US$ | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 7,503 constant 2024 US$ | +22.5% |
| 2008 | 8,590 constant 2024 US$ | +14.5% |
| 2009 | 8,471 constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 7,895 constant 2024 US$ | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 8,279 constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 7,474 constant 2024 US$ | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 7,675 constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 9,000 constant 2024 US$ | +17.3% |
| 2015 | 8,160 constant 2024 US$ | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 6,187 constant 2024 US$ | -24.2% |
| 2017 | 6,203 constant 2024 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 5,686 constant 2024 US$ | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 5,750 constant 2024 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 5,355 constant 2024 US$ | -6.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5,355 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,504 constant 2024 US$, 27% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23,766 constant 2024 US$ | 17,561 constant 2024 US$ | 29,972 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 8,752 constant 2024 US$ | 6,043 constant 2024 US$ | 23,905 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,664 constant 2024 US$ | 4,550 constant 2024 US$ | 8,667 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,231 constant 2024 US$ | 5,686 constant 2024 US$ | 9,000 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,355 constant 2024 US$ | 5,355 constant 2024 US$ | 5,355 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 139 Benin 6,087 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 140 Belarus 5,738 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 141 Tajikistan 5,405 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 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
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka was 5,355 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 29,972 constant 2024 US$ in 1985.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,550 constant 2024 US$ in 2003.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Sri Lanka ranks 142nd out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.