Military spending, per capita in New Zealand
New Zealand: Military spending, per capita was 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
37th
of 161 countries
All-time high
810.74 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1980
All-time low
421.71 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 2014
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military spending, per capita in New Zealand, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person for military spending, per capita in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in New Zealand peaked at 810.74 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1980 and was at its lowest, 421.71 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 2014.
That places New Zealand 37th out of 161 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Military spending, per capita in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 520 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 478.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.9% |
| 1962 | 455.29 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 1963 | 454.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 531.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | +16.8% |
| 1965 | 520.03 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.1% |
| 1966 | 580.14 constant 2024 US$ per person | +11.6% |
| 1967 | 552.94 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.7% |
| 1968 | 579.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 596.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 642.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.7% |
| 1971 | 595.09 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.3% |
| 1972 | 593.11 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 565.41 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.7% |
| 1974 | 571.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 571.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 544.08 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 549.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 580.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 584.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 810.74 constant 2024 US$ per person | +38.7% |
| 1981 | 766.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 696.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.2% |
| 1983 | 670.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 689.03 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 679.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 740.95 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 753.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 660.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.3% |
| 1989 | 679.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 701.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 629.81 constant 2024 US$ per person | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 583.19 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 563.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 563.19 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 565.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 561.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 542.8 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 538.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 543.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 542.3 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 526.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 498.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 481.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 444.7 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 434.44 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 474.88 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 474.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 456.58 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 474.43 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 477.79 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 458.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 443.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 429.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 421.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 426.24 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 459.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 482.31 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 517.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 620.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.0% |
| 2020 | 626.36 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 570.35 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.9% |
| 2022 | 578.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 591.95 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 567.3 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.2% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 883.8 constant 2024 US$ per person, 61% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 87.22 constant 2024 US$ per person, 6.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +38.7% | 584.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | 810.74 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 526.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | 454.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | 596.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 579.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | 544.08 constant 2024 US$ per person | 642.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 714.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | 660.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 810.74 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 579.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | 538.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | 701.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 480.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | 434.44 constant 2024 US$ per person | 542.3 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 473.79 constant 2024 US$ per person | 421.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | 620.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 579.56 constant 2024 US$ per person | 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person | 626.36 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 34 Austria 638.91 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 35 Czechia 595.97 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 36 Uruguay 564.18 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 38 Slovenia 536.77 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 39 Armenia 533.19 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 40 Slovakia 530.33 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, per capita in New Zealand?
- Military spending, per capita in New Zealand was 543.27 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 810.74 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1980.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 421.71 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2014.
- How does New Zealand rank for military spending, per capita?
- New Zealand ranks 37th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 66 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.