Military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Military spending, per capita was 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1963–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo is 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 16.6% on the previous year and up 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 19.57 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.7769 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1998.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 145th of 161 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 capita in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 7.54 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1964 | 10.1 constant 2024 US$ per person | +34.0% |
| 1965 | 16 constant 2024 US$ per person | +58.4% |
| 1966 | 13.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | -16.6% |
| 1967 | 11.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.6% |
| 1968 | 11.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 15.39 constant 2024 US$ per person | +31.3% |
| 1970 | 19.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | +27.1% |
| 1971 | 17.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.5% |
| 1972 | 13.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | -22.3% |
| 1973 | 12.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.3% |
| 1974 | 17.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | +39.0% |
| 1975 | 12.31 constant 2024 US$ per person | -30.5% |
| 1976 | 7.31 constant 2024 US$ per person | -40.6% |
| 1977 | 6.1 constant 2024 US$ per person | -16.6% |
| 1978 | 5.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | -15.3% |
| 1979 | 4.55 constant 2024 US$ per person | -11.8% |
| 1980 | 3.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | -14.7% |
| 1981 | 2.05 constant 2024 US$ per person | -47.1% |
| 1982 | 3.93 constant 2024 US$ per person | +91.2% |
| 1983 | 2.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | -34.0% |
| 1984 | 3.12 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.5% |
| 1985 | 2.55 constant 2024 US$ per person | -18.5% |
| 1986 | 3.41 constant 2024 US$ per person | +34.0% |
| 1987 | 1.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | -57.1% |
| 1988 | 10.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | +615.6% |
| 1989 | 3.19 constant 2024 US$ per person | -69.6% |
| 1990 | 2.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | -31.6% |
| 1991 | 1.94 constant 2024 US$ per person | -11.1% |
| 1992 | 3.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | +84.5% |
| 1993 | 10.6 constant 2024 US$ per person | +196.4% |
| 1996 | 3.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -69.1% |
| 1997 | 2.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | -19.1% |
| 1998 | 0.7769 constant 2024 US$ per person | -70.7% |
| 1999 | 2.74 constant 2024 US$ per person | +252.3% |
| 2000 | 1.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | -28.0% |
| 2003 | 3.06 constant 2024 US$ per person | +55.3% |
| 2004 | 4.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | +60.9% |
| 2005 | 5.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 5.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 5.41 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 3.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | -30.6% |
| 2009 | 2.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | -26.5% |
| 2010 | 3.64 constant 2024 US$ per person | +31.7% |
| 2011 | 4.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 5.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | +33.6% |
| 2013 | 5.82 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 5.1 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.5% |
| 2015 | 7.05 constant 2024 US$ per person | +38.4% |
| 2016 | 5.8 constant 2024 US$ per person | -17.8% |
| 2017 | 4.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | -23.8% |
| 2018 | 3.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | -16.8% |
| 2019 | 4.15 constant 2024 US$ per person | +12.8% |
| 2020 | 4.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 3.37 constant 2024 US$ per person | -19.0% |
| 2022 | 3.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 7.21 constant 2024 US$ per person | +97.2% |
| 2024 | 8.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | +14.1% |
| 2025 | 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | +16.6% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for low income countries, which is 10.78 constant 2024 US$ per person, 89% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.2 constant 2024 US$ per person, 53% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +615.6% | 1.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10.48 constant 2024 US$ per person |
| 1999 | +252.3% | 0.7769 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2.74 constant 2024 US$ per person |
| 1993 | +196.4% | 3.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10.6 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7.54 constant 2024 US$ per person | 16 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7 |
| 1970s | 11.73 constant 2024 US$ per person | 4.55 constant 2024 US$ per person | 19.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.47 constant 2024 US$ per person | 0.7769 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10.6 constant 2024 US$ per person | 8 |
| 2000s | 4.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | 8 |
| 2010s | 4.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.64 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7.05 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.37 constant 2024 US$ per person | 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 142 Ghana 10.98 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 143 Papua New Guinea 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 144 Somalia 9.8 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 146 Guinea-Bissau 9.35 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 147 South Sudan 8.42 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 148 Zimbabwe 7.88 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3528 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.335 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.82 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Military spending, per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo was 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 19.57 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1970.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7769 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1998.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for military spending, per capita?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 145th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 59 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.