Kazakhstan Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Kazakhstan's military spending was 0.22% in 2025, ranked 146th globally. This represents a 48.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1993–2025.
Overview
Kazakhstan's military spending stood at 0.22% in 2025, a decline of +0.21% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.22% by 2025. Kazakhstan ranked 146th globally.
Kazakhstan’s military expenditure has fallen sharply over the 33‑year series, slipping from a high of 1.30 % of GDP in 2007 to a trough of 0.22 % in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the World Bank series and ranking 146th globally. The decline follows a post‑Soviet consolidation period in which spending initially rose to exceed 1 % of output before a sustained retrenchment after 2010, reflecting both fiscal tightening and a strategic shift toward multilateral security arrangements. By contrast, peer nations such as Ireland register the same 0.22 % share, while Papua New Guinea remains higher at 0.31 %, underscoring Kazakhstan’s relatively modest defence budget among comparable economies. The persistent downward trajectory suggests that unless regional security dynamics intensify or domestic policy pivots toward greater military investment, Kazakhstan’s share of GDP devoted to defence is likely to remain at or near the current low level.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | -0.05% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.09% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.22% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.22% | −0.21% | #146 |
| 2024 | 0.43% | −0.01% | #8 |
| 2023 | 0.44% | −0.08% | #8 |
| 2022 | 0.52% | −0.30% | #11 |
| 2021 | 0.82% | −0.09% | #25 |
| 2020 | 0.91% | −0.11% | #29 |
| 2019 | 1.02% | +0.19% | #40 |
| 2018 | 0.84% | +0.00% | #29 |
| 2017 | 0.83% | −0.10% | #25 |
| 2016 | 0.93% | −0.18% | #32 |
| 2015 | 1.11% | +0.07% | #54 |
| 2014 | 1.04% | −0.04% | #50 |
| 2013 | 1.08% | +0.03% | #54 |
| 2012 | 1.05% | +0.11% | #43 |
| 2011 | 0.94% | −0.08% | #35 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kazakhstan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2010. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kazakhstan's military spending was 0.22% in 2025. Ranked 146th globally. This represents a 48.2% decrease from the previous year.
Kazakhstan's military spending peaked at 1.30% in 2007.
The lowest military spending in Kazakhstan was 0.22% in 2025.
Kazakhstan ranks 146th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kazakhstan's military spending is projected to reach 0.22% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Kazakhstan in 2025 was 0.22%. This ranks 146th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kazakhstan_military-spending,
title = {Kazakhstan Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kazakhstan/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}