Military spending per armed forces personnel in United States
United States: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 676,306 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
Military spending per armed forces personnel in United States, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in United States is 676,306 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in United States peaked at 690,154 constant 2024 US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 325,256 constant 2024 US$, in 1991.
United States ranks 1st of 160 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 366,184 constant 2024 US$ | 363,598 constant 2024 US$ | 368,769 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 363,880 constant 2024 US$ | 325,256 constant 2024 US$ | 379,069 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 531,676 constant 2024 US$ | 400,802 constant 2024 US$ | 659,956 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 640,919 constant 2024 US$ | 609,032 constant 2024 US$ | 690,154 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 676,306 constant 2024 US$ | 676,306 constant 2024 US$ | 676,306 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending per armed forces personnel in United States?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in United States was 676,306 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 690,154 constant 2024 US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 325,256 constant 2024 US$ in 1991.
- How does United States rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- United States ranks 1st out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.