Military spending in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military spending was 87.98 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
87.98 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
6th
of 162 countries
All-time high
89.81 billion constant 2024 US$
in 2024
All-time low
37.97 billion constant 2024 US$
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Military spending in United Kingdom, 1950–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in United Kingdom is 87.98 billion constant 2024 US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and up 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in United Kingdom peaked at 89.81 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 37.97 billion constant 2024 US$, in 1950.
United Kingdom ranks 6th of 162 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Military spending in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 37.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1951 | 44.71 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.7% |
| 1952 | 57.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +27.9% |
| 1953 | 63.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.1% |
| 1954 | 60.32 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1955 | 57.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.8% |
| 1956 | 56.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 54.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1958 | 53.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1959 | 52.74 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1960 | 53.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 53.78 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 54.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 55.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 56.90 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 57.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 56.77 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 58.22 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 57.39 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 54.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1970 | 55.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 55.74 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 59.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 59.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 59.50 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 62.51 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 61.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 58.91 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 60.78 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 62.68 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 66.84 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 65.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 71.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1983 | 74.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 78.25 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 78.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 78.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 77.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 74.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 75.08 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 75.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 76.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 71.04 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 67.80 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 65.93 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 61.84 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1996 | 61.25 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 59.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 59.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 58.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 60.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 62.52 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 66.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 70.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 71.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 72.50 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 72.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 74.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 78.09 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 79.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 78.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 75.37 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 73.28 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 70.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 69.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 66.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 66.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 66.56 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 67.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 69.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 70.96 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 72.05 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 73.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 78.17 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 89.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | +14.9% |
| 2025 | 87.98 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 87.98 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.82 billion constant 2024 US$, 12.9× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 87.98 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.80 billion constant 2024 US$, 31.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | +27.9% | 44.71 billion constant 2024 US$ | 57.19 billion constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 53.77 billion constant 2024 US$ | 37.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | 63.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 55.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | 53.78 billion constant 2024 US$ | 58.22 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | 55.74 billion constant 2024 US$ | 62.68 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | 65.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | 78.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 65.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | 58.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | 76.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.93 billion constant 2024 US$ | 60.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | 79.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.32 billion constant 2024 US$ | 66.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | 78.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.69 billion constant 2024 US$ | 70.96 billion constant 2024 US$ | 89.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 3 Russia 158.24 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 4 Germany 106.73 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 5 India 93.25 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 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
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 in United Kingdom?
- Military spending in United Kingdom was 87.98 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 89.81 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.97 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military spending?
- United Kingdom ranks 6th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 76 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.