Guyana Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Guyana's military spending was 0.48% in 2025, ranked 141st globally. This represents a 44.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1973–2025.
Overview
Guyana's military spending stood at 0.48% in 2025, a decline of +0.39% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.48% by 2025. Guyana ranked 141st globally.
Guyana’s military outlays have contracted dramatically over the past half‑century, falling from a high of 8.44 percent of GDP in 1985 to just 0.48 percent in 2025, the lowest figure recorded in the World Bank series and ranking the country 141st globally. The decline from the 1973 level of 1.65 percent reflects a sustained de‑escalation of defence spending that coincides with the nation’s shift toward a resource‑driven economy and limited external security threats. By contrast, regional peers such as the Gambia record a slightly higher share of 0.49 percent, while Malta’s spending sits at 0.44 percent, underscoring Guyana’s position at the lower end of the spectrum among comparable small states. The all‑time trough reached in 2025 suggests that future budgetary allocations will likely remain modest unless geopolitical tensions or domestic security concerns intensify, at which point a reversal of the downward trajectory could emerge.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.20% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.34% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.48% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.48% | −0.39% | #141 |
| 2024 | 0.87% | +0.23% | #28 |
| 2023 | 0.64% | +0.04% | #16 |
| 2022 | 0.60% | −0.35% | #15 |
| 2021 | 0.95% | −0.45% | #34 |
| 2020 | 1.40% | +0.10% | #66 |
| 2019 | 1.30% | +0.01% | #65 |
| 2018 | 1.29% | +0.04% | #66 |
| 2017 | 1.25% | +0.10% | #65 |
| 2016 | 1.15% | +0.07% | #57 |
| 2015 | 1.08% | +0.13% | #49 |
| 2014 | 0.95% | +0.11% | #35 |
| 2013 | 0.84% | +0.02% | #30 |
| 2012 | 0.83% | −0.05% | #29 |
| 2011 | 0.88% | −0.03% | #31 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guyana 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
Guyana's military spending was 0.48% in 2025. Ranked 141st globally. This represents a 44.9% decrease from the previous year.
Guyana's military spending peaked at 8.44% in 1985.
The lowest military spending in Guyana was 0.48% in 2025.
Guyana ranks 141st globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guyana's military spending is projected to reach 0.48% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Guyana in 2025 was 0.48%. This ranks 141st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guyana_military-spending,
title = {Guyana Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guyana/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}