Austria Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Austria's military spending was 0.95% in 2025, ranked 114th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Austria's military spending stood at 0.95% in 2025, a decline of +0.05% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.95% by 2025. Austria ranked 114th globally.
Austria’s military spending, measured as a share of gross domestic product, has declined markedly since the mid‑1960s, falling from an all‑time high of 1.89 % in 1964 to a trough of 0.70 % in 2015, before modestly rising to 0.95 % in 2025, which places the country 114th in the world. Over the 66‑year series, the downward trajectory reflects Austria’s long‑standing policy of limited defence budgets and a strategic reliance on collective security arrangements within the European Union and NATO’s Partnership for Peace. The 2025 figure aligns closely with peers such as Thailand (0.95 %) and Kenya (0.94 %), suggesting a convergence among middle‑income economies that prioritize social spending over arms procurement. If fiscal pressures intensify or regional security concerns deepen, Austria could see a renewed uptick in defence outlays, but absent such shocks the gradual decline is likely to persist.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.99% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.97% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.95% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.95% | −0.05% | #114 |
| 2024 | 1.00% | +0.13% | #41 |
| 2023 | 0.87% | +0.10% | #30 |
| 2022 | 0.77% | −0.11% | #27 |
| 2021 | 0.87% | −0.01% | #29 |
| 2020 | 0.89% | +0.13% | #27 |
| 2019 | 0.75% | +0.00% | #26 |
| 2018 | 0.75% | −0.01% | #27 |
| 2017 | 0.76% | +0.03% | #22 |
| 2016 | 0.73% | +0.03% | #22 |
| 2015 | 0.70% | −0.05% | #20 |
| 2014 | 0.75% | −0.00% | #22 |
| 2013 | 0.76% | −0.03% | #24 |
| 2012 | 0.78% | −0.01% | #25 |
| 2011 | 0.80% | −0.03% | #23 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Austria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Austria's military spending was 0.95% in 2025. Ranked 114th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from the previous year.
Austria's military spending peaked at 1.89% in 1964.
The lowest military spending in Austria was 0.70% in 2015.
Austria ranks 114th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Austria's military spending is projected to reach 0.95% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Austria in 2025 was 0.95%. This ranks 114th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_austria_military-spending,
title = {Austria Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/austria/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}