Military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland
Switzerland: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 326,305 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland, 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$.
Analysis
In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland stood at 326,305 constant 2024 US$.
The figure is up 8.6% on the previous year and up 60.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland peaked at 1.38 million constant 2024 US$ in 2004 and was at its lowest, 49,842 constant 2024 US$, in 2005.
Switzerland ranks 13th of 160 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 433,018 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 494,757 constant 2024 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1990 | 405,468 constant 2024 US$ | -18.0% |
| 1991 | 391,448 constant 2024 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 269,747 constant 2024 US$ | -31.1% |
| 1993 | 212,146 constant 2024 US$ | -21.4% |
| 1994 | 188,661 constant 2024 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1995 | 237,090 constant 2024 US$ | +25.7% |
| 1996 | 258,042 constant 2024 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1997 | 258,572 constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 257,573 constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 226,365 constant 2024 US$ | -12.1% |
| 2000 | 222,985 constant 2024 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 225,079 constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 209,198 constant 2024 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 204,494 constant 2024 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.38 million constant 2024 US$ | +574.7% |
| 2005 | 49,842 constant 2024 US$ | -96.4% |
| 2006 | 224,844 constant 2024 US$ | +351.1% |
| 2007 | 226,257 constant 2024 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 231,758 constant 2024 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 207,837 constant 2024 US$ | -10.3% |
| 2010 | 203,401 constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 228,613 constant 2024 US$ | +12.4% |
| 2012 | 228,881 constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 264,876 constant 2024 US$ | +15.7% |
| 2014 | 245,173 constant 2024 US$ | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 253,518 constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 263,695 constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 264,632 constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 260,918 constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 300,462 constant 2024 US$ | +15.2% |
| 2020 | 326,305 constant 2024 US$ | +8.6% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 326,305 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 131,220 constant 2024 US$, 2.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 326,305 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55,593 constant 2024 US$, 5.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +574.7% | 204,494 constant 2024 US$ | 1.38 million constant 2024 US$ |
| 2006 | +351.1% | 49,842 constant 2024 US$ | 224,844 constant 2024 US$ |
| 2005 | -96.4% | 1.38 million constant 2024 US$ | 49,842 constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 463,888 constant 2024 US$ | 433,018 constant 2024 US$ | 494,757 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 270,511 constant 2024 US$ | 188,661 constant 2024 US$ | 405,468 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 318,211 constant 2024 US$ | 49,842 constant 2024 US$ | 1.38 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 251,417 constant 2024 US$ | 203,401 constant 2024 US$ | 300,462 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 326,305 constant 2024 US$ | 326,305 constant 2024 US$ | 326,305 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Switzerland was 326,305 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.38 million constant 2024 US$ in 2004.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 49,842 constant 2024 US$ in 2005.
- How does Switzerland rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Switzerland ranks 13th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.