Guatemala Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Guatemala's military spending was 0.38% in 2025, ranked 144th globally. This represents a 3.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Guatemala's military spending stood at 0.38% in 2025, a rise of +0.01% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.38% by 2025. Guatemala ranked 144th globally.
Guatemala’s military expenditure has fallen to 0.38 percent of GDP in 2025, ranking it 144th globally, after a gradual decline from the 1.16 percent recorded in 1960. The sharpest contraction occurred in the mid‑2020s, with the all‑time trough of 0.37 percent reached in 2024, contrasting with the all‑time peak of 2.19 percent in 1984 during the height of the Cold War era. Over the 66‑year series, the share of resources devoted to defence has been consistently lower than that of many peers; Ghana, for example, posted 0.40 percent in the same year, while Malta recorded 0.44 percent. The downward trajectory reflects reduced external security pressures and a reallocation of fiscal space toward social and infrastructure programmes. Continued fiscal consolidation and a stable regional security environment are likely to keep the share of GDP allocated to the military at or below current levels, unless a significant geopolitical shift occurs.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.36% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.37% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.38% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.38% | +0.01% | #144 |
| 2024 | 0.37% | −0.05% | #6 |
| 2023 | 0.42% | −0.04% | #7 |
| 2022 | 0.46% | +0.07% | #9 |
| 2021 | 0.39% | −0.05% | #7 |
| 2020 | 0.44% | +0.01% | #8 |
| 2019 | 0.43% | +0.06% | #9 |
| 2018 | 0.37% | −0.01% | #7 |
| 2017 | 0.38% | −0.06% | #7 |
| 2016 | 0.44% | +0.03% | #9 |
| 2015 | 0.41% | −0.02% | #6 |
| 2014 | 0.42% | −0.05% | #6 |
| 2013 | 0.47% | −0.00% | #10 |
| 2012 | 0.48% | +0.02% | #6 |
| 2011 | 0.46% | +0.02% | #8 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guatemala matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guatemala's military spending was 0.38% in 2025. Ranked 144th globally. This represents a 3.5% increase from the previous year.
Guatemala's military spending peaked at 2.19% in 1984.
The lowest military spending in Guatemala was 0.37% in 2024.
Guatemala ranks 144th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guatemala's military spending is projected to reach 0.38% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Guatemala in 2025 was 0.38%. This ranks 144th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guatemala_military-spending,
title = {Guatemala Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guatemala/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}