Military spending in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Military spending was 785.44 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
785.44 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 12.1%
World rank
92nd
of 162 countries
All-time high
1.88 billion constant 2024 US$
in 1999
All-time low
207.80 million constant 2024 US$
in 1970
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Military spending in Ethiopia, 1965–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 785.44 million constant 2024 US$ for military spending in 2025.
That represents a change of up 12.1% on the previous year and up 47.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Ethiopia peaked at 1.88 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1999 and was at its lowest, 207.80 million constant 2024 US$, in 1970.
That places Ethiopia 92nd out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 287.16 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1966 | 294.66 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 249.07 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.5% |
| 1968 | 232.90 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1969 | 228.03 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 207.80 million constant 2024 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1971 | 215.66 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 240.59 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 237.86 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 333.46 million constant 2024 US$ | +40.2% |
| 1975 | 523.60 million constant 2024 US$ | +57.0% |
| 1976 | 417.02 million constant 2024 US$ | -20.4% |
| 1977 | 377.04 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1978 | 435.27 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1979 | 581.65 million constant 2024 US$ | +33.6% |
| 1980 | 723.90 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.5% |
| 1981 | 696.59 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 694.38 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 737.08 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 704.18 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 600.41 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1986 | 680.83 million constant 2024 US$ | +13.4% |
| 1987 | 757.22 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1988 | 912.25 million constant 2024 US$ | +20.5% |
| 1989 | 1.08 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.9% |
| 1990 | 1.03 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1991 | 510.11 million constant 2024 US$ | -50.3% |
| 1992 | 301.59 million constant 2024 US$ | -40.9% |
| 1993 | 333.45 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 307.40 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1995 | 259.30 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1996 | 301.77 million constant 2024 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1997 | 554.94 million constant 2024 US$ | +83.9% |
| 1998 | 1.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +113.8% |
| 1999 | 1.88 billion constant 2024 US$ | +58.7% |
| 2000 | 1.70 billion constant 2024 US$ | -9.8% |
| 2001 | 1.08 billion constant 2024 US$ | -36.5% |
| 2002 | 896.87 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.9% |
| 2003 | 763.80 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.8% |
| 2004 | 828.50 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 831.51 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 751.05 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.7% |
| 2007 | 692.91 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 553.42 million constant 2024 US$ | -20.1% |
| 2009 | 544.15 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 528.30 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 514.48 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 496.43 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 497.10 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 514.92 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 530.97 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 610.08 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 636.37 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 628.14 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 585.02 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 510.38 million constant 2024 US$ | -12.8% |
| 2021 | 491.80 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 1.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | +105.6% |
| 2023 | 981.77 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 700.35 million constant 2024 US$ | -28.7% |
| 2025 | 785.44 million constant 2024 US$ | +12.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 785.44 million constant 2024 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 193.28 million constant 2024 US$, 4.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 785.44 million constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 336.91 million constant 2024 US$, 2.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +113.8% | 554.94 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.19 billion constant 2024 US$ |
| 2022 | +105.6% | 491.80 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.01 billion constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 258.37 million constant 2024 US$ | 228.03 million constant 2024 US$ | 294.66 million constant 2024 US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 357.00 million constant 2024 US$ | 207.80 million constant 2024 US$ | 581.65 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 758.23 million constant 2024 US$ | 600.41 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.08 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 666.56 million constant 2024 US$ | 259.30 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.88 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 863.97 million constant 2024 US$ | 544.15 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.70 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 554.18 million constant 2024 US$ | 496.43 million constant 2024 US$ | 636.37 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 746.84 million constant 2024 US$ | 491.80 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 89 Mali 882.92 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 90 Burkina Faso 844.03 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 91 Luxembourg 802.63 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 93 Lebanon 736.42 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 94 Cote d'Ivoire 721.09 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 95 Cambodia 716.30 million constant 2024 US$ compare
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Ethiopia?
- Military spending in Ethiopia was 785.44 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.88 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1999.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 207.80 million constant 2024 US$ in 1970.
- How does Ethiopia rank for military spending?
- Ethiopia ranks 92nd out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.