Cambodia Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Cambodia's military spending was 1.42% in 2025, ranked 85th globally. This represents a 6.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1986–2025.
Overview
Cambodia's military spending stood at 1.42% in 2025, a decline of +0.11% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.42% by 2025. Cambodia ranked 85th globally.
Cambodia's military spending as a percentage of its Gross National Income (GNI) has fluctuated significantly over the past four decades, peaking at 3.84% in 1994 amidst post-Cold War regional tensions and a border dispute with Thailand. The country's military spending has since declined, reaching an all-time low of 0.68% in 2008. However, in recent years, Cambodia's military spending has stabilized, reaching 1.42% of GNI in 2025, a figure comparable to that of Slovenia, its peer country in the global ranking. This trend suggests that Cambodia's military spending has normalized, likely reflecting a stable security environment and a growing focus on domestic development. Continued regional stability and increased economic growth could further contribute to a sustained decline in military spending as a percentage of GNI, potentially redirecting resources towards other sectors such as education and infrastructure development.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.28% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.35% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.42% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.42% | −0.11% | #85 |
| 2024 | 1.52% | −0.02% | #66 |
| 2023 | 1.54% | +0.00% | #75 |
| 2022 | 1.54% | −0.16% | #82 |
| 2021 | 1.70% | −0.08% | #94 |
| 2020 | 1.78% | +0.16% | #91 |
| 2019 | 1.62% | −0.02% | #86 |
| 2018 | 1.64% | +0.08% | #90 |
| 2017 | 1.56% | +0.12% | #87 |
| 2016 | 1.44% | +0.09% | #81 |
| 2015 | 1.35% | +0.08% | #78 |
| 2014 | 1.26% | +0.03% | #69 |
| 2013 | 1.23% | +0.01% | #66 |
| 2012 | 1.22% | +0.02% | #65 |
| 2011 | 1.20% | −0.02% | #57 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cambodia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambodia's military spending was 1.42% in 2025. Ranked 85th globally. This represents a 6.9% decrease from the previous year.
Cambodia's military spending peaked at 3.84% in 1994.
The lowest military spending in Cambodia was 0.68% in 2008.
Cambodia ranks 85th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cambodia's military spending is projected to reach 1.42% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Cambodia in 2025 was 1.42%. This ranks 85th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cambodia_military-spending,
title = {Cambodia Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cambodia/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}