Military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Military spending, per capita was 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea, 1975–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea stood at 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person.
The figure is up 17.5% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea peaked at 37.81 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1990 and was at its lowest, 7.28 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 2003.
Papua New Guinea ranks 143rd 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 12.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1976 | 31.39 constant 2024 US$ per person | +161.4% |
| 1977 | 29.73 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.3% |
| 1978 | 30.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 31 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 32.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 29.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | -10.4% |
| 1985 | 28.44 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 27.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 28.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 27.14 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 28.84 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 37.81 constant 2024 US$ per person | +31.1% |
| 1991 | 26.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | -30.8% |
| 1992 | 27.3 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 29.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 35.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | +17.7% |
| 1995 | 24.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | -29.5% |
| 1996 | 30.73 constant 2024 US$ per person | +24.4% |
| 1997 | 31.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 24.07 constant 2024 US$ per person | -23.4% |
| 1999 | 17.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | -25.2% |
| 2000 | 15.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | -14.8% |
| 2001 | 12.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | -19.1% |
| 2002 | 8.32 constant 2024 US$ per person | -32.9% |
| 2003 | 7.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.5% |
| 2004 | 7.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 9.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | +14.2% |
| 2006 | 8.63 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 10.09 constant 2024 US$ per person | +16.9% |
| 2008 | 8.05 constant 2024 US$ per person | -20.2% |
| 2009 | 9.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | +22.5% |
| 2010 | 7.93 constant 2024 US$ per person | -19.6% |
| 2011 | 8.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 12.55 constant 2024 US$ per person | +40.9% |
| 2013 | 11.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 12.93 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 11.88 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 9.74 constant 2024 US$ per person | -18.0% |
| 2017 | 9.37 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 8.94 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 9.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 9.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 8.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 12.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | +44.5% |
| 2023 | 9.12 constant 2024 US$ per person | -25.6% |
| 2024 | 8.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.1% |
| 2025 | 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | +17.5% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.14 constant 2024 US$ per person, 36% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 87.22 constant 2024 US$ per person, 12% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +161.4% | 12.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | 31.39 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | 12.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | 31.39 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5 |
| 1980s | 28.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | 27.14 constant 2024 US$ per person | 32.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7 |
| 1990s | 28.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | 17.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | 37.81 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | 15.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.39 constant 2024 US$ per person | 7.93 constant 2024 US$ per person | 12.93 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.73 constant 2024 US$ per person | 8.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | 12.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 140 Central African Republic 12.34 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 141 Burundi 11.76 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 142 Ghana 10.98 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 144 Somalia 9.8 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 145 Democratic Republic of Congo 9.59 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 146 Guinea-Bissau 9.35 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
More reference data data for Papua New Guinea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2042 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3515 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0007 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3515 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6846 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.5295 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2811 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0038 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea?
- Military spending, per capita in Papua New Guinea was 10.17 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 37.81 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1990.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.28 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2003.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for military spending, per capita?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 143rd out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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 — 48 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.