Military spending, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 9.6%
World rank
53rd
of 160 countries
All-time high
0.7351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1960
All-time low
0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military spending, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom stood at 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 9.6% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 0.7351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2025.
United Kingdom ranks 53rd of 160 countries on this measure, 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 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.7351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.6918 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1962 | 0.6704 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.1% |
| 1963 | 0.64 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 1964 | 0.6027 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 0.5605 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.0% |
| 1966 | 0.5229 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.7% |
| 1967 | 0.5147 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.6% |
| 1968 | 0.5326 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.5% |
| 1969 | 0.4657 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.6% |
| 1970 | 0.4275 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.2% |
| 1971 | 0.3763 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.0% |
| 1972 | 0.3488 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.3% |
| 1973 | 0.309 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.4% |
| 1974 | 0.2887 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.6% |
| 1975 | 0.2586 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.4% |
| 1976 | 0.2648 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 0.2239 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.4% |
| 1978 | 0.181 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.2% |
| 1979 | 0.1428 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.1% |
| 1980 | 0.1183 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.1% |
| 1981 | 0.1211 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 0.1386 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +14.5% |
| 1983 | 0.1523 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 0.1696 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.4% |
| 1985 | 0.1614 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 1986 | 0.1297 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.7% |
| 1987 | 0.1035 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.2% |
| 1988 | 0.0818 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.0% |
| 1989 | 0.081 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 0.0688 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.1% |
| 1991 | 0.0666 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 0.0602 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.5% |
| 1993 | 0.0639 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 0.0578 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.5% |
| 1995 | 0.0458 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.7% |
| 1996 | 0.043 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 1997 | 0.0376 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.4% |
| 1998 | 0.0357 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 0.0348 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 0.036 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 0.0377 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 0.037 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0344 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 0.0296 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0284 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 0.0268 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 0.0241 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0265 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0327 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +23.2% |
| 2010 | 0.0312 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 0.0282 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 0.0269 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0252 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 0.0225 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 0.0226 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.0245 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.4% |
| 2017 | 0.0247 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.0231 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 0.0243 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 0.026 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0226 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 2022 | 0.023 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0229 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 0.0243 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0197 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.019 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5936 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.4657 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.7351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2821 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1428 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.4275 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1257 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.081 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1696 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0514 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0348 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0688 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0313 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0241 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0377 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0253 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0225 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0312 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0235 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.026 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 50 Uruguay 0.0224 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 51 Sweden 0.0224 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 52 Central African Republic 0.0222 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 54 Vietnam 0.0212 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 55 Germany 0.0211 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 56 Niger 0.0208 constant 2024 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 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1960.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.022 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 53rd out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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.