El Salvador Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
El Salvador's military spending was 1.23% in 2025, ranked 97th globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1965–2025.
Overview
El Salvador's military spending stood at 1.23% in 2025, a rise of +0.04% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.23% by 2025. El Salvador ranked 97th globally.
El Salvador’s military spending has risen modestly from a 1965 level of 0.74 % of GDP to 1.23 % in 2025, placing the country 97th globally and aligning it with peers such as Canada, which records the same share. The most pronounced surge occurred in the mid‑1980s, when spending peaked at 6.59 % of GDP in 1985, reflecting the intense internal conflict of that era, while the lowest point was recorded in 1970 at 0.63 %. Over the 61‑year series, the average share has remained below 2 %, indicating a relatively restrained fiscal commitment to the armed forces compared with many regional counterparts. Recent modest increases suggest a gradual normalization after the post‑war drawdown, but the trajectory could be altered by shifts in security policy, external aid conditions, or regional geopolitical tensions, which would likely drive future spending either upward or downward.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.18% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.20% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.23% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.23% | +0.04% | #97 |
| 2024 | 1.19% | −0.15% | #49 |
| 2023 | 1.34% | −0.10% | #59 |
| 2022 | 1.43% | +0.22% | #75 |
| 2021 | 1.21% | −0.17% | #53 |
| 2020 | 1.38% | +0.20% | #63 |
| 2019 | 1.18% | +0.05% | #51 |
| 2018 | 1.13% | +0.09% | #49 |
| 2017 | 1.04% | +0.02% | #46 |
| 2016 | 1.02% | −0.03% | #43 |
| 2015 | 1.06% | +0.02% | #45 |
| 2014 | 1.04% | −0.04% | #49 |
| 2013 | 1.08% | +0.03% | #55 |
| 2012 | 1.05% | −0.04% | #44 |
| 2011 | 1.09% | −0.00% | #44 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's military spending was 1.23% in 2025. Ranked 97th globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from the previous year.
El Salvador's military spending peaked at 6.59% in 1985.
The lowest military spending in El Salvador was 0.63% in 1970.
El Salvador ranks 97th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
El Salvador's military spending is projected to reach 1.23% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of El Salvador in 2025 was 1.23%. This ranks 97th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_military-spending,
title = {El Salvador Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}