Kosovo Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Kosovo's military spending was 1.55% in 2025, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 5.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2008–2025.
Overview
Kosovo's military spending stood at 1.55% in 2025, a rise of +0.08% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.55% by 2025. Kosovo ranked 79th globally.
Kosovo’s military expenditure has risen sharply over the 18‑year span covered by the World Bank data, moving from a trough of 0.02 % of GDP in 2008 to an all‑time peak of 1.55 % in 2025, the highest level recorded for the country and placing it 79th globally. This ascent reflects a more than seventy‑fold increase in the share of resources allocated to defence, a pace that outstrips many peers; for example, Cyprus records a comparable 1.55 % in the same year while Portugal lags slightly at 1.51 %. The escalation coincides with Kosovo’s ongoing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to meet NATO‑compatible standards, amid regional security concerns that have intensified since the late 2010s. If fiscal pressures ease or external security guarantees expand, the upward trajectory could moderate, but absent such changes the current pattern suggests further incremental growth in defence spending in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.82% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.69% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.55% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.55% | +0.08% | #79 |
| 2024 | 1.48% | +0.20% | #65 |
| 2023 | 1.27% | +0.12% | #53 |
| 2022 | 1.15% | +0.30% | #46 |
| 2021 | 0.85% | −0.18% | #26 |
| 2020 | 1.02% | +0.19% | #39 |
| 2019 | 0.83% | +0.03% | #31 |
| 2018 | 0.80% | +0.00% | #28 |
| 2017 | 0.80% | +0.03% | #24 |
| 2016 | 0.78% | −0.02% | #23 |
| 2015 | 0.79% | +0.04% | #23 |
| 2014 | 0.76% | +0.04% | #23 |
| 2013 | 0.72% | +0.02% | #22 |
| 2012 | 0.70% | −0.10% | #22 |
| 2011 | 0.80% | +0.08% | #25 |
Analysis
Kosovo's military spending was 1.55% in 2025, a rise of +0.08% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 1.55% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kosovo's military spending was 1.55% in 2025. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 5.3% increase from the previous year.
Kosovo's military spending peaked at 1.55% in 2025.
The lowest military spending in Kosovo was 0.02% in 2008.
Kosovo ranks 79th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kosovo's military spending is projected to reach 1.55% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Kosovo in 2025 was 1.55%. This ranks 79th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kosovo_military-spending,
title = {Kosovo Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kosovo/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}