Finland Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Finland's military spending was 2.46% in 2025, ranked 37th globally. This represents a 6.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Finland's military spending stood at 2.46% in 2025, a rise of +0.16% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.46% by 2025. Finland ranked 37th globally.
Finland’s military expenditure has shown modest fluctuation over the 66‑year series, rising from 1.77 in 1960 to a post‑Cold‑War low of 1.14 in 2001 before reaching an all‑time peak of 2.51 in 1962, the highest level recorded during the early Cold War. By 2025 the country’s spending stood at 2.46, placing it 37th globally and closely aligned with peers such as Denmark (2.53) and Pakistan (2.48). The upward trajectory since the early 2000s reflects renewed security concerns in the Baltic region and greater integration with NATO standards, while the long‑term average remains above the 1960 baseline. Continued geopolitical tension in Europe or shifts in defence procurement could sustain the current level, whereas a substantial de‑escalation or budgetary re‑prioritisation would be required to reverse the modest upward trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 2.94% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.70% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.46% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.46% | +0.16% | #37 |
| 2024 | 2.30% | +0.29% | #108 |
| 2023 | 2.01% | +0.42% | #100 |
| 2022 | 1.59% | +0.29% | #88 |
| 2021 | 1.30% | −0.13% | #60 |
| 2020 | 1.44% | +0.07% | #71 |
| 2019 | 1.36% | −0.01% | #71 |
| 2018 | 1.37% | +0.01% | #78 |
| 2017 | 1.36% | −0.07% | #75 |
| 2016 | 1.43% | −0.03% | #80 |
| 2015 | 1.46% | −0.00% | #84 |
| 2014 | 1.46% | −0.08% | #83 |
| 2013 | 1.54% | +0.01% | #87 |
| 2012 | 1.53% | +0.04% | #86 |
| 2011 | 1.49% | +0.00% | #82 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Finland 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
Finland's military spending was 2.46% in 2025. Ranked 37th globally. This represents a 6.8% increase from the previous year.
Finland's military spending peaked at 2.51% in 1962.
The lowest military spending in Finland was 1.14% in 2001.
Finland ranks 37th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Finland's military spending is projected to reach 2.46% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Finland in 2025 was 2.46%. This ranks 37th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_finland_military-spending,
title = {Finland Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/finland/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}