Military spending, per capita in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military spending, per capita was 1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
16th
of 161 countries
All-time high
1,397 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1985
All-time low
978.22 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1969
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military spending, per capita in United Kingdom, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, per capita in United Kingdom stood at 1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in United Kingdom peaked at 1,397 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1985 and was at its lowest, 978.22 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1969.
United Kingdom ranks 16th of 161 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Military spending, per capita in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,027 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 1,019 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 1,023 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 1,033 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 1,054 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 1,050 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 1,039 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 1,060 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 1,039 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 978.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 1,004 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 997.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 1,057 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 1,059 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 1,058 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 1,112 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 1,096 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 1,048 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 1978 | 1,082 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 1,114 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 1,187 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 1,162 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 1,268 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 1,323 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 1,387 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 1,397 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 1,376 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 1,358 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 1,307 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 1,315 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 1,313 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1,324 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 1,234 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 1,175 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 1,139 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 1,066 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.5% |
| 1996 | 1,053 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 1,013 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 1,013 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1,005 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 1,021 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 1,057 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 1,116 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 1,189 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 1,197 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1,200 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 1,197 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 1,220 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 1,264 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 1,274 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 1,243 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 1,192 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 1,150 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 1,101 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 1,073 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 1,024 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 1,013 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 1,009 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 1,012 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 1,048 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 1,063 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 1,076 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 1,082 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 1,141 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 1,296 constant 2024 US$ per person | +13.6% |
| 2025 | 1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 883.8 constant 2024 US$ per person, 1.4× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 531.76 constant 2024 US$ per person, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,032 constant 2024 US$ per person | 978.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,060 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,063 constant 2024 US$ per person | 997.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,114 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,308 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,162 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,397 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,134 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,005 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,324 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,174 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,021 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,274 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,086 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,009 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,243 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,154 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,063 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,296 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 13 Finland 1,348 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 14 Germany 1,278 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 15 Australia 1,277 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 17 Brunei 1,211 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 18 Luxembourg 1,168 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 19 Poland 1,167 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, per capita in United Kingdom?
- Military spending, per capita in United Kingdom was 1,266 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1,397 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1985.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 978.22 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1969.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military spending, per capita?
- United Kingdom ranks 16th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.