Military spending in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Military spending was 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
114.56 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
137th
of 162 countries
All-time high
120.86 million constant 2024 US$
in 1990
All-time low
70,855 constant 2024 US$
in 1973
Years of data
46
1972–2025
Military spending in Nicaragua, 1972–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ for military spending in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Nicaragua peaked at 120.86 million constant 2024 US$ in 1990 and was at its lowest, 70,855 constant 2024 US$, in 1973.
Nicaragua ranks 137th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 93,742 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1973 | 70,855 constant 2024 US$ | -24.4% |
| 1974 | 90,381 constant 2024 US$ | +27.6% |
| 1975 | 102,396 constant 2024 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1976 | 136,349 constant 2024 US$ | +33.2% |
| 1977 | 172,930 constant 2024 US$ | +26.8% |
| 1978 | 206,886 constant 2024 US$ | +19.6% |
| 1979 | 137,692 constant 2024 US$ | -33.4% |
| 1980 | 156,813 constant 2024 US$ | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 192,462 constant 2024 US$ | +22.7% |
| 1990 | 120.86 million constant 2024 US$ | +62696.8% |
| 1991 | 100.16 million constant 2024 US$ | -17.1% |
| 1992 | 67.10 million constant 2024 US$ | -33.0% |
| 1993 | 56.61 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1994 | 57.49 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 57.61 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 51.79 million constant 2024 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1997 | 51.00 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 43.85 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1999 | 45.10 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 51.79 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2001 | 47.12 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 59.80 million constant 2024 US$ | +26.9% |
| 2003 | 61.01 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 54.84 million constant 2024 US$ | -10.1% |
| 2005 | 54.95 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 57.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 57.78 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 54.72 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 54.19 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 57.26 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 64.65 million constant 2024 US$ | +12.9% |
| 2012 | 86.32 million constant 2024 US$ | +33.5% |
| 2013 | 89.90 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 97.21 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 119.30 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.7% |
| 2016 | 103.99 million constant 2024 US$ | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 106.81 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 101.07 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 94.04 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 98.00 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 92.68 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 93.50 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 102.95 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.1% |
| 2024 | 108.63 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.5% |
| 2025 | 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.5% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 557.82 million constant 2024 US$, 21% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 575.75 million constant 2024 US$, 20% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Nicaragua changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +62696.8% | 192,462 constant 2024 US$ | 120.86 million constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 126,404 constant 2024 US$ | 70,855 constant 2024 US$ | 206,886 constant 2024 US$ | 8 |
| 1980s | 174,638 constant 2024 US$ | 156,813 constant 2024 US$ | 192,462 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 65.16 million constant 2024 US$ | 43.85 million constant 2024 US$ | 120.86 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.40 million constant 2024 US$ | 47.12 million constant 2024 US$ | 61.01 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.05 million constant 2024 US$ | 57.26 million constant 2024 US$ | 119.30 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 101.72 million constant 2024 US$ | 92.68 million constant 2024 US$ | 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 134 Zimbabwe 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 135 Malawi 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 136 Malta 116.81 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 138 Equatorial Guinea 112.50 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 139 Madagascar 110.60 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 140 Papua New Guinea 109.46 million constant 2024 US$ compare
More reference data data for Nicaragua
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4575 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0819 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.4557 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4457 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Nicaragua?
- Military spending in Nicaragua was 114.56 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 120.86 million constant 2024 US$ in 1990.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 70,855 constant 2024 US$ in 1973.
- How does Nicaragua rank for military spending?
- Nicaragua ranks 137th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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 — 46 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.