Ghana Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Ghana's military spending was 0.40% in 2025, ranked 143rd globally. This represents a 2.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Ghana's military spending stood at 0.40% in 2025, a rise of +0.01% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.40% by 2025. Ghana ranked 143rd globally.
Ghana’s military expenditure as a share of gross domestic product has contracted sharply since the late 1960s, falling from an all‑time peak of 2.66 % in 1968 to a historic low of 0.26 % in 2002, before edging upward to 0.40 % in 2025, ranking 143rd globally. The early post‑independence surge reflected Cold‑War security concerns, while the 2000s trough coincided with fiscal consolidation and a focus on non‑defence development priorities. The modest rebound in the 2020s aligns Ghana’s defence budget more closely with peers such as Guatemala (0.38 %) and Malta (0.44 %). Over the 64‑year series, the downward trajectory suggests a persistent preference for allocating resources to social and infrastructure programmes rather than armed forces. Continued economic growth, regional security dynamics, or shifts in external aid could alter this path, potentially prompting a renewed increase in defence spending.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.41% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.40% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.40% | +0.01% | #143 |
| 2024 | 0.38% | −0.01% | #7 |
| 2023 | 0.40% | +0.06% | #6 |
| 2022 | 0.34% | −0.04% | #4 |
| 2021 | 0.38% | +0.03% | #6 |
| 2020 | 0.35% | +0.01% | #4 |
| 2019 | 0.34% | +0.02% | #4 |
| 2018 | 0.33% | +0.01% | #4 |
| 2017 | 0.31% | +0.02% | #4 |
| 2016 | 0.29% | −0.10% | #3 |
| 2015 | 0.39% | −0.09% | #5 |
| 2014 | 0.48% | +0.08% | #11 |
| 2013 | 0.40% | −0.19% | #6 |
| 2012 | 0.59% | +0.16% | #16 |
| 2011 | 0.44% | +0.15% | #6 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ghana matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ghana's military spending was 0.40% in 2025. Ranked 143rd globally. This represents a 2.9% increase from the previous year.
Ghana's military spending peaked at 2.66% in 1968.
The lowest military spending in Ghana was 0.26% in 2002.
Ghana ranks 143rd globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ghana's military spending is projected to reach 0.40% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Ghana in 2025 was 0.40%. This ranks 143rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ghana_military-spending,
title = {Ghana Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ghana/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}