Mauritius Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Mauritius's military spending was 0.14% in 2025, ranked 148th globally. This represents a 9.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1963–2025.
Overview
Mauritius's military spending stood at 0.14% in 2025, a decline of +0.01% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.14% by 2025. Mauritius ranked 148th globally.
Mauritius has consistently allocated a modest share of its gross domestic product to defence, with the World Bank reporting a military‑spending ratio of 0.14 % in 2025, the lowest level recorded over a 63‑year series and tying the figure first observed in 1963. The highest proportion occurred in 1980 when spending reached 0.49 % of GDP, after which the share steadily receded, reflecting the island’s reliance on diplomatic security arrangements and limited strategic threats. Compared with peer nations, Mauritius’ 0.14 % remains below Ireland’s 0.22 % and above Haiti’s 0.04 %, underscoring a middle‑ground stance among small economies that balance fiscal constraints with modest defence needs. The persistence of a low, stable ratio suggests that future shifts will likely depend on external security pressures or major policy reforms rather than organic growth, implying that any substantive increase in the defence budget would require a marked change in regional or global risk perceptions.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.12% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.13% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.14% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.14% | −0.01% | #148 |
| 2024 | 0.15% | +0.01% | #2 |
| 2023 | 0.14% | +0.00% | #2 |
| 2022 | 0.14% | −0.03% | #2 |
| 2021 | 0.17% | +0.01% | #2 |
| 2020 | 0.16% | +0.01% | #2 |
| 2019 | 0.15% | −0.01% | #2 |
| 2018 | 0.16% | −0.01% | #2 |
| 2017 | 0.17% | −0.01% | #2 |
| 2016 | 0.17% | +0.03% | #2 |
| 2015 | 0.14% | −0.01% | #2 |
| 2014 | 0.15% | −0.04% | #2 |
| 2013 | 0.19% | +0.05% | #2 |
| 2012 | 0.14% | −0.01% | #1 |
| 2011 | 0.15% | +0.00% | #1 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mauritius matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Mauritius's military spending was 0.14% in 2025. Ranked 148th globally. This represents a 9.2% decrease from the previous year.
Mauritius's military spending peaked at 0.49% in 1980.
The lowest military spending in Mauritius was 0.14% in 2025.
Mauritius ranks 148th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Mauritius's military spending is projected to reach 0.14% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Mauritius in 2025 was 0.14%. This ranks 148th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mauritius_military-spending,
title = {Mauritius Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mauritius/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}