Croatia Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Croatia's military spending was 1.77% in 2025, ranked 69th globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1992–2025.
Overview
Croatia's military spending stood at 1.77% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.77% by 2025. Croatia ranked 69th globally.
Croatia's military spending, as a percentage of its GDP, has exhibited significant fluctuations over the past three decades. The country's all-time peak in military spending occurred in 1994, when it reached 11.15% of GDP, likely due to the ongoing Yugoslav Wars during that period. Conversely, the lowest point was recorded in 2018, at 1.54% of GDP, indicating a considerable decrease in military expenditure. As of 2025, Croatia's military spending has stabilized at 1.77% of GDP, ranked 69th globally. This value is comparable to that of Lebanon, which also stands at 1.79% of GDP. Croatia's military spending has been trending downward since the 1990s, a pattern shared by some of its peer countries, such as Georgia, which has maintained a similar level of military expenditure. The trajectory of Croatia's military spending may continue to be influenced by its ongoing NATO membership and regional security dynamics, with any significant changes in regional tensions or international cooperation potentially impacting its future spending trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.76% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.77% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.77% | −0.02% | #69 |
| 2024 | 1.79% | +0.09% | #77 |
| 2023 | 1.71% | −0.10% | #87 |
| 2022 | 1.80% | −0.17% | #100 |
| 2021 | 1.97% | +0.27% | #104 |
| 2020 | 1.70% | +0.09% | #81 |
| 2019 | 1.60% | +0.06% | #85 |
| 2018 | 1.54% | −0.09% | #88 |
| 2017 | 1.63% | +0.04% | #91 |
| 2016 | 1.59% | −0.16% | #91 |
| 2015 | 1.75% | −0.06% | #95 |
| 2014 | 1.81% | +0.20% | #96 |
| 2013 | 1.61% | −0.05% | #91 |
| 2012 | 1.66% | −0.08% | #93 |
| 2011 | 1.74% | +0.07% | #93 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Croatia 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
Croatia's military spending was 1.77% in 2025. Ranked 69th globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from the previous year.
Croatia's military spending peaked at 11.15% in 1994.
The lowest military spending in Croatia was 1.54% in 2018.
Croatia ranks 69th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Croatia's military spending is projected to reach 1.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Croatia in 2025 was 1.77%. This ranks 69th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_croatia_military-spending,
title = {Croatia Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/croatia/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}