Madagascar Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Madagascar's military spending was 0.68% in 2025, ranked 130th globally. This represents a 3.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1961–2025.
Overview
Madagascar's military spending stood at 0.68% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.68% by 2025. Madagascar ranked 130th globally.
Madagascar’s military spending has fallen to 0.68 percent of GDP in 2025, placing the island nation at rank 130 globally and just above Argentina’s 0.65 percent and roughly equal to Switzerland’s 0.69 percent. The decline follows a long‑term downward trajectory that began after the all‑time peak of 2.98 percent in 1981, a period marked by Cold‑War‑era security concerns, and reached an all‑time trough of 0.50 percent in 2016 amid fiscal consolidation. Over the 63‑year series from 1961, when spending was 1.50 percent, the average has more than halved, reflecting limited defence procurement and a strategic reliance on regional security arrangements rather than large standing forces. The modest rebound to 0.68 percent suggests a cautious reallocation of resources, but future shifts in regional instability or external security assistance could alter the trajectory, potentially prompting a renewed increase in defence outlays.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.69% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.69% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.68% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.68% | −0.02% | #130 |
| 2024 | 0.71% | +0.06% | #19 |
| 2023 | 0.65% | −0.01% | #17 |
| 2022 | 0.65% | −0.03% | #19 |
| 2021 | 0.68% | +0.01% | #20 |
| 2020 | 0.67% | +0.13% | #16 |
| 2019 | 0.55% | +0.01% | #15 |
| 2018 | 0.53% | +0.03% | #15 |
| 2017 | 0.51% | +0.00% | #14 |
| 2016 | 0.50% | −0.02% | #14 |
| 2015 | 0.52% | −0.04% | #15 |
| 2014 | 0.56% | −0.02% | #14 |
| 2013 | 0.58% | −0.01% | #17 |
| 2012 | 0.59% | −0.03% | #15 |
| 2011 | 0.62% | +0.05% | #19 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Madagascar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Madagascar's military spending was 0.68% in 2025. Ranked 130th globally. This represents a 3.4% decrease from the previous year.
Madagascar's military spending peaked at 2.98% in 1981.
The lowest military spending in Madagascar was 0.50% in 2016.
Madagascar ranks 130th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Madagascar's military spending is projected to reach 0.68% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Madagascar in 2025 was 0.68%. This ranks 130th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_madagascar_military-spending,
title = {Madagascar Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/madagascar/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}