Azerbaijan Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Azerbaijan's military spending was 4.63% in 2025, ranked 12th globally. This represents a 7.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1992–2025.
Overview
Azerbaijan's military spending stood at 4.63% in 2025, a decline of +0.37% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 4.63% by 2025. Azerbaijan ranked 12th globally.
Azerbaijan’s military spending has risen steadily since the early 1990s, moving from 2.40 % of GDP in 1992 to 4.62 % in 2025, which places the country twelfth in the world according to World Bank data. The upward trajectory peaked in 2015 at 5.46 % of GDP, a level that reflected heightened regional security concerns and substantial investment in modernising the armed forces. The lowest share was recorded in 1994 at 1.95 %, shortly after independence when fiscal resources were constrained. Over the 34‑year series, Azerbaijan’s spending pattern aligns closely with peers such as Jordan, which posted 4.85 % in 2025, and Oman at 4.42 %, suggesting a regional norm of allocating roughly four to five percent of output to defence. Continued geopolitical tension or a shift toward diversified economic priorities could alter this path, but barring major external shocks, the current upward trend is likely to persist in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 4.52% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 4.57% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 4.63% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.63% | −0.37% | #12 |
| 2024 | 4.99% | +0.07% | #139 |
| 2023 | 4.92% | +1.13% | #141 |
| 2022 | 3.80% | −1.14% | #135 |
| 2021 | 4.93% | −0.31% | #146 |
| 2020 | 5.24% | +1.39% | #145 |
| 2019 | 3.85% | +0.30% | #139 |
| 2018 | 3.55% | −0.21% | #140 |
| 2017 | 3.76% | +0.07% | #139 |
| 2016 | 3.69% | −1.78% | #137 |
| 2015 | 5.46% | +0.91% | #146 |
| 2014 | 4.56% | +0.01% | #145 |
| 2013 | 4.54% | −0.12% | #147 |
| 2012 | 4.66% | −0.01% | #145 |
| 2011 | 4.67% | +1.88% | #136 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Azerbaijan matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Azerbaijan's military spending was 4.63% in 2025. Ranked 12th globally. This represents a 7.4% decrease from the previous year.
Azerbaijan's military spending peaked at 5.46% in 2015.
The lowest military spending in Azerbaijan was 1.95% in 1994.
Azerbaijan ranks 12th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Azerbaijan's military spending is projected to reach 4.63% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Azerbaijan in 2025 was 4.63%. This ranks 12th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_azerbaijan_military-spending,
title = {Azerbaijan Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/azerbaijan/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}