Military spending, per unit of GDP in United States
United States: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 12.0%
World rank
28th
of 160 countries
All-time high
0.9389 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1962
All-time low
0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military spending, per unit of GDP in United States, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per unit of gdp in United States is 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.0% on the previous year and down 34.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in United States peaked at 0.9389 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2025.
United States ranks 28th of 160 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per unit of GDP in United States, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.9259 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.9308 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 0.9389 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 0.8776 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 1964 | 0.7899 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 1965 | 0.7316 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.4% |
| 1966 | 0.7894 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.9% |
| 1967 | 0.8571 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.6% |
| 1968 | 0.8088 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 0.7146 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.6% |
| 1970 | 0.6278 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.1% |
| 1971 | 0.5205 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.1% |
| 1972 | 0.4733 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.1% |
| 1973 | 0.4036 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.7% |
| 1974 | 0.3674 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.0% |
| 1975 | 0.3185 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.3% |
| 1976 | 0.2786 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 0.2602 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.6% |
| 1978 | 0.2318 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 1979 | 0.2087 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 1980 | 0.1914 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 0.19 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 0.2155 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +13.4% |
| 1983 | 0.1936 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.1% |
| 1984 | 0.1833 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.3% |
| 1985 | 0.1829 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 0.1847 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 0.1728 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 1988 | 0.1569 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.2% |
| 1989 | 0.1444 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.0% |
| 1990 | 0.1309 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.3% |
| 1991 | 0.112 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.5% |
| 1992 | 0.1114 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 0.1003 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0895 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.8% |
| 1995 | 0.0797 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 1996 | 0.0713 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.5% |
| 1997 | 0.0668 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 0.0618 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 0.0583 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 0.0569 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 0.0555 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 0.0604 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0656 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.6% |
| 2004 | 0.067 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0657 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0629 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 0.0616 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0648 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 0.0713 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0705 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0673 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 0.061 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0542 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.1% |
| 2014 | 0.0487 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 2015 | 0.0459 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 0.0445 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 0.0422 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 0.0413 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 0.0418 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.0441 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 0.0393 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 2022 | 0.0354 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0339 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 0.0343 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.0302 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, 1.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8365 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.7146 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.9389 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.369 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2087 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.6278 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1815 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1444 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2155 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0882 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0583 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1309 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0632 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0555 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0713 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0517 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0413 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0705 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0362 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0441 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 25 Burkina Faso 0.0306 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 26 Denmark 0.0304 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 27 Norway 0.0303 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 29 Colombia 0.03 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 30 Bahrain 0.0299 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 31 Botswana 0.0298 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in United States?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in United States was 0.0302 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9389 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1962.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0302 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025.
- How does United States rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- United States ranks 28th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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
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 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.