Military spending in Japan
Japan: Military spending was 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
59.49 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 9.7%
World rank
10th
of 162 countries
All-time high
59.49 billion constant 2024 US$
in 2025
All-time low
6.30 billion constant 2024 US$
in 1952
Years of data
74
1952–2025
Military spending in Japan, 1952–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Japan is 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 9.7% on the previous year and up 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Japan peaked at 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6.30 billion constant 2024 US$, in 1952.
Japan ranks 10th of 162 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Japan, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 6.30 billion constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1953 | 6.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1954 | 7.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +12.7% |
| 1955 | 7.66 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1956 | 7.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1957 | 6.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1958 | 7.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 6.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1960 | 7.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 6.80 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 6.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 7.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1964 | 8.31 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1965 | 8.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1966 | 9.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1967 | 10.33 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1968 | 11.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1969 | 11.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 13.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1971 | 14.46 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1972 | 16.15 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 17.04 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 17.46 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 18.17 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 18.33 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 18.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 19.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 21.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1980 | 21.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 22.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 23.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 24.22 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 25.32 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 26.68 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 27.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 29.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 30.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 31.79 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 33.35 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 34.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 34.70 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 34.56 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 34.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 35.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 35.76 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 36.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 36.11 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 35.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 36.11 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 36.74 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 36.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 36.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 36.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 36.76 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 36.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 35.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 35.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 36.13 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 36.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 36.75 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 36.31 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 36.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 36.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 37.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 36.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 36.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 38.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 39.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 39.33 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 42.28 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 39.77 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 45.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | +15.3% |
| 2024 | 54.25 billion constant 2024 US$ | +18.3% |
| 2025 | 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.82 billion constant 2024 US$, 8.7× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Japan's 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.65 billion constant 2024 US$, 12.8× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6.30 billion constant 2024 US$ | 7.66 billion constant 2024 US$ | 8 |
| 1960s | 8.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6.80 billion constant 2024 US$ | 11.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | 13.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | 21.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | 21.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | 31.79 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.03 billion constant 2024 US$ | 33.35 billion constant 2024 US$ | 36.11 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | 35.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | 36.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.11 billion constant 2024 US$ | 36.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | 39.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | 39.33 billion constant 2024 US$ | 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 7 Saudi Arabia 81.47 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 8 Ukraine 77.56 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 9 France 64.52 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 11 South Korea 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 12 Italy 45.44 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 13 Israel 43.66 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Japan?
- Military spending in Japan was 59.49 billion 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 59.49 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.30 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1952.
- How does Japan rank for military spending?
- Japan ranks 10th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 74 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.