Germany Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Germany's military spending was 1.86% in 2025, ranked 65th globally. This represents a 1.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Germany's military spending stood at 1.86% in 2025, a decline of +0.04% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.86% by 2025. Germany ranked 65th globally.
Germany’s military spending, measured as a share of gross domestic product, has fallen markedly from an early‑post‑war high of 4.88 % in 1963 to a historic low of 1.12 % in 2015, before modestly rising to 1.86 % in 2025, placing the country 65th in the world. Over the 66‑year span the downward trajectory reflects a long‑standing emphasis on a restrained defence budget, punctuated by the post‑Cold‑War drawdown that produced the 2015 trough. The recent uptick aligns Germany with peers such as the Netherlands (1.82 % of GDP) and the Czech Republic (1.88 % of GDP), suggesting a modest convergence among advanced economies toward higher, though still modest, defence allocations. While the increase signals a response to evolving security challenges, future spending will depend on fiscal constraints, NATO burden‑sharing commitments and the domestic political climate; sustained pressure to meet alliance targets could accelerate the upward trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 2.11% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.98% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.86% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.86% | −0.04% | #65 |
| 2024 | 1.89% | +0.40% | #83 |
| 2023 | 1.49% | +0.14% | #70 |
| 2022 | 1.35% | +0.05% | #65 |
| 2021 | 1.30% | −0.06% | #59 |
| 2020 | 1.36% | +0.12% | #59 |
| 2019 | 1.24% | +0.09% | #57 |
| 2018 | 1.15% | +0.02% | #51 |
| 2017 | 1.13% | +0.00% | #54 |
| 2016 | 1.13% | +0.01% | #53 |
| 2015 | 1.12% | −0.01% | #56 |
| 2014 | 1.13% | −0.03% | #57 |
| 2013 | 1.16% | −0.06% | #61 |
| 2012 | 1.22% | +0.03% | #64 |
| 2011 | 1.18% | −0.06% | #55 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Germany 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
Germany's military spending was 1.86% in 2025. Ranked 65th globally. This represents a 1.9% decrease from the previous year.
Germany's military spending peaked at 4.88% in 1963.
The lowest military spending in Germany was 1.12% in 2015.
Germany ranks 65th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Germany's military spending is projected to reach 1.86% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Germany in 2025 was 1.86%. This ranks 65th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_germany_military-spending,
title = {Germany Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/germany/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}