Malaysia Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Malaysia's military spending was 0.96% in 2025, ranked 111th globally. This represents a 2.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Malaysia's military spending stood at 0.96% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.96% by 2025. Malaysia ranked 111th globally.
Malaysia’s military expenditure as a share of gross domestic product has shown a marked long‑term decline, falling from 2.68 % in 1960 to a nadir of 0.89 % in 2019 before modestly rising to 0.96 % in 2025, which places the country 111th globally. The all‑time peak of 5.79 % occurred in 1981, reflecting the heightened security concerns of the Cold War era, while the post‑2010 reduction aligns with a broader regional shift toward lower defence burdens. Relative to peers, Malaysia’s 2025 level is virtually identical to Trinidad and Tobago’s 0.96 % and only slightly below Cameroon’s 0.97 % and Thailand’s 0.95 %, suggesting a comparable fiscal stance among middle‑income economies. The 66‑year coverage indicates a sustained downward trajectory, yet the recent uptick hints at a possible stabilization or modest increase, contingent on geopolitical developments and domestic policy choices that could reshape future spending patterns.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.96% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.96% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.96% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.96% | −0.02% | #111 |
| 2024 | 0.99% | +0.01% | #39 |
| 2023 | 0.98% | +0.08% | #36 |
| 2022 | 0.90% | −0.08% | #32 |
| 2021 | 0.98% | −0.02% | #36 |
| 2020 | 1.00% | +0.11% | #36 |
| 2019 | 0.89% | −0.07% | #35 |
| 2018 | 0.96% | −0.14% | #34 |
| 2017 | 1.10% | −0.28% | #49 |
| 2016 | 1.38% | −0.12% | #74 |
| 2015 | 1.50% | +0.05% | #87 |
| 2014 | 1.46% | −0.04% | #82 |
| 2013 | 1.50% | +0.09% | #86 |
| 2012 | 1.41% | −0.14% | #78 |
| 2011 | 1.55% | +0.06% | #86 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malaysia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malaysia's military spending was 0.96% in 2025. Ranked 111th globally. This represents a 2.5% decrease from the previous year.
Malaysia's military spending peaked at 5.79% in 1981.
The lowest military spending in Malaysia was 0.89% in 2019.
Malaysia ranks 111th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malaysia's military spending is projected to reach 0.96% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Malaysia in 2025 was 0.96%. This ranks 111th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malaysia_military-spending,
title = {Malaysia Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malaysia/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}