Malta Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Malta's military spending was 0.44% in 2025, ranked 142nd globally. This represents a 2.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1985–2025.
Overview
Malta's military spending stood at 0.44% in 2025, a decline of +0.01% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.44% by 2025. Malta ranked 142nd globally.
Malta’s defence outlays have contracted markedly over the past four decades, falling from a high of 1.46 % of GDP in 1987 to a low of 0.41 % in 2022, before a modest rebound to 0.44 % in 2025, ranking 142nd globally. This decline reflects a broader shift in the island’s fiscal priorities, with limited strategic imperatives and a small armed forces structure that can be maintained at modest levels. The 2025 figure remains slightly above Ghana’s 0.40 % share but below Guyana’s 0.48 %, positioning Malta among the lower‑spending nations in the peer group. The long‑term downward trajectory suggests that future changes in regional security dynamics or EU defence initiatives could prompt a reassessment of spending, but absent such external pressures the modest upward tick observed in 2025 is likely to remain incremental.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.42% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.43% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.44% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.44% | −0.01% | #142 |
| 2024 | 0.45% | −0.05% | #9 |
| 2023 | 0.50% | +0.09% | #9 |
| 2022 | 0.41% | −0.03% | #6 |
| 2021 | 0.45% | −0.08% | #8 |
| 2020 | 0.53% | +0.04% | #11 |
| 2019 | 0.49% | +0.08% | #13 |
| 2018 | 0.41% | −0.04% | #9 |
| 2017 | 0.46% | −0.04% | #11 |
| 2016 | 0.50% | +0.04% | #13 |
| 2015 | 0.46% | −0.02% | #11 |
| 2014 | 0.48% | −0.02% | #9 |
| 2013 | 0.50% | −0.02% | #16 |
| 2012 | 0.52% | −0.05% | #12 |
| 2011 | 0.57% | −0.07% | #16 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malta matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malta's military spending was 0.44% in 2025. Ranked 142nd globally. This represents a 2.5% decrease from the previous year.
Malta's military spending peaked at 1.46% in 1987.
The lowest military spending in Malta was 0.41% in 2022.
Malta ranks 142nd globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malta's military spending is projected to reach 0.44% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Malta in 2025 was 0.44%. This ranks 142nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malta_military-spending,
title = {Malta Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malta/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}