Military spending, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
46th
of 170 countries
All-time high
0.5061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1962
All-time low
0.0215 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2014
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP for military spending, per unit of gdp in 2023.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 0.5061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.0215 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2014.
That places United Kingdom 46th out of 170 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.4871 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.5005 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 0.5061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 0.4737 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 1964 | 0.4575 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 0.4197 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 0.3723 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.3% |
| 1967 | 0.3735 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 0.3756 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 0.3153 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.0% |
| 1970 | 0.2865 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.2% |
| 1971 | 0.2724 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
| 1972 | 0.2568 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 1973 | 0.2251 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.4% |
| 1974 | 0.2205 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 0.1801 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.3% |
| 1976 | 0.1869 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 0.1696 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.2% |
| 1978 | 0.1388 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.2% |
| 1979 | 0.126 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.2% |
| 1980 | 0.1102 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.5% |
| 1981 | 0.1093 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 0.1219 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.5% |
| 1983 | 0.1284 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 0.1357 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 0.1304 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 0.1131 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.3% |
| 1987 | 0.0909 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.6% |
| 1988 | 0.0756 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.8% |
| 1989 | 0.072 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 0.0626 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.1% |
| 1991 | 0.0598 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 0.056 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 0.0612 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 0.0557 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 0.0438 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0407 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.2% |
| 1997 | 0.0389 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 0.0359 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.7% |
| 1999 | 0.0351 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0344 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 0.035 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 0.0324 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 0.0338 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 0.0315 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 0.0306 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0292 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0263 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 0.0263 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0306 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0298 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.0262 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 0.0263 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.0243 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 0.0215 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 0.0226 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 0.0239 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 0.025 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 0.0242 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 0.0255 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 0.0277 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 0.0253 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0189 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.0185 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.4281 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3153 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.5061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2063 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.126 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2865 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1087 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.072 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1357 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.049 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0351 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0626 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.031 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0263 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.035 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0249 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0215 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0298 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0256 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0277 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 43 Lithuania 0.027 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 44 Ecuador 0.0258 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 45 Latvia 0.0257 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 47 Central African Republic 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 48 Iraq 0.024 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 49 Sudan 0.0237 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom was 0.0246 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 0.5061 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1962.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0215 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2014.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 46th out of 170 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.