Latvia Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Latvia's military spending was 3.44% in 2025, ranked 19th globally. This represents a 5.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1993–2025.
Overview
Latvia's military spending stood at 3.44% in 2025, a rise of +0.18% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.44% by 2025. Latvia ranked 19th globally.
Latvia’s military expenditure has risen steadily over the thirty‑three‑year series, moving from a low of 0.60 percent of GDP in 1997 to an all‑time peak of 3.44 percent in 2025, the highest level recorded in the series and placing the country nineteenth globally. The early 1990s showed modest spending, with the earliest observation in 1993 at 0.74 percent, but a gradual acceleration began in the late 1990s and intensified after NATO accession, reflecting heightened security commitments in the Baltic region. By 2025 Latvia’s share of 3.44 percent is comparable to Estonia’s 3.52 percent and only slightly below Lithuania’s 3.33 percent, underscoring a regional convergence in defence budgeting. The upward trajectory suggests that continued geopolitical tensions or further integration with Western security structures could sustain or even increase the share of GDP devoted to defence, while a lasting reduction in regional threats would be required to reverse the current trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 4.01% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 3.72% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.44% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.44% | +0.18% | #19 |
| 2024 | 3.26% | +0.29% | #127 |
| 2023 | 2.97% | +0.72% | #126 |
| 2022 | 2.25% | +0.10% | #118 |
| 2021 | 2.16% | −0.07% | #112 |
| 2020 | 2.23% | +0.14% | #115 |
| 2019 | 2.09% | −0.04% | #112 |
| 2018 | 2.13% | +0.48% | #119 |
| 2017 | 1.65% | +0.15% | #92 |
| 2016 | 1.50% | +0.43% | #86 |
| 2015 | 1.07% | +0.10% | #47 |
| 2014 | 0.98% | +0.01% | #40 |
| 2013 | 0.97% | +0.03% | #40 |
| 2012 | 0.94% | −0.16% | #35 |
| 2011 | 1.11% | +0.00% | #47 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Latvia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Latvia's military spending was 3.44% in 2025. Ranked 19th globally. This represents a 5.5% increase from the previous year.
Latvia's military spending peaked at 3.44% in 2025.
The lowest military spending in Latvia was 0.60% in 1997.
Latvia ranks 19th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Latvia's military spending is projected to reach 3.44% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Latvia in 2025 was 3.44%. This ranks 19th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_latvia_military-spending,
title = {Latvia Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/latvia/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}