Military spending, per square kilometre in United States
United States: Military spending, per square kilometre was 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
21st
of 171 countries
All-time high
116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
38,970 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
in 1976
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Military spending, per square kilometre in United States, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, per square kilometre in United States stood at 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per square kilometre in United States peaked at 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 38,970 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre, in 1976.
United States ranks 21st of 171 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Military spending, per square kilometre in United States, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 42,434 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 42,261 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 39,649 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -6.2% |
| 1964 | 43,197 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +8.9% |
| 1965 | 43,438 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 50,656 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +16.6% |
| 1967 | 57,005 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 56,757 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 55,134 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -2.9% |
| 1970 | 51,259 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -7.0% |
| 1971 | 46,776 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -8.7% |
| 1972 | 46,516 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 44,208 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 40,324 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -8.8% |
| 1975 | 39,827 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 38,970 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 39,824 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 39,500 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 41,533 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 42,559 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 45,501 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 53,294 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +17.1% |
| 1983 | 54,039 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 58,908 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 64,556 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +9.6% |
| 1986 | 66,430 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 65,233 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 64,663 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 65,174 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 62,363 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 55,673 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -10.7% |
| 1992 | 60,041 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 57,568 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -4.1% |
| 1994 | 57,709 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 54,395 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 50,735 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 51,377 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 52,569 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 52,464 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 54,028 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 58,736 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 58,098 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 69,290 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +19.3% |
| 2004 | 72,213 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 75,616 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 79,851 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 82,877 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 84,896 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 86,308 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 91,488 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 92,269 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 84,956 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 81,784 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 77,897 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 80,084 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 80,886 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 84,236 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 91,668 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 98,056 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 108,213 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 109,401 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 113,339 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre is above the median for high income countries, which is 56,388 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre, 2.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47,837 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 39,649 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 57,005 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 42,874 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 38,970 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 51,259 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 58,036 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 42,559 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 66,430 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 55,489 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 50,735 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 62,363 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 72,191 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 54,028 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 86,308 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 86,333 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 77,897 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 98,056 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 111,843 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 108,213 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 18 Italy 139,111 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 19 France 133,540 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 20 Barbados 117,655 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 22 Ukraine 108,074 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 23 Brunei 107,551 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 24 Poland 87,011 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
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 square kilometre in United States?
- Military spending, per square kilometre in United States was 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 116,420 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,970 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 1976.
- How does United States rank for military spending, per square kilometre?
- United States ranks 21st out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per square kilometre rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.