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$, in 1991.
United States ranks 1st of 160 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in United States, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 368,769 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 363,598 constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 358,065 constant 2024 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 325,256 constant 2024 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1992 | 378,457 constant 2024 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1993 | 377,885 constant 2024 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 379,069 constant 2024 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 372,358 constant 2024 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 366,326 constant 2024 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 373,653 constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 351,308 constant 2024 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 356,421 constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 400,802 constant 2024 US$ | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 413,755 constant 2024 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 449,906 constant 2024 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 507,569 constant 2024 US$ | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 555,839 constant 2024 US$ | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 553,986 constant 2024 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 579,975 constant 2024 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 573,624 constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 621,346 constant 2024 US$ | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 659,956 constant 2024 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 676,477 constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 690,154 constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 664,007 constant 2024 US$ | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 638,187 constant 2024 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 621,435 constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 622,627 constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 620,210 constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 609,032 constant 2024 US$ | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 617,905 constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 649,159 constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 676,306 constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 676,306 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 131,220 constant 2024 US$, 5.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 366,184 constant 2024 US$ | 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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
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.
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.