Mexico Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Mexico's military spending was 0.83% in 2025, ranked 122nd globally. This represents a 7.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Mexico's military spending stood at 0.83% in 2025, a decline of +0.06% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.83% by 2025. Mexico ranked 122nd globally.
Mexico’s military outlays have risen modestly but steadily over the past six‑decade span, climbing from 0.67 percent of GDP in 1960 to a peak of 0.89 percent in 2024, before slipping slightly to 0.83 percent in 2025, which places the country 122nd in the world. The lowest share recorded was 0.30 percent in 2006, reflecting a period of fiscal restraint that coincided with heightened security challenges on the domestic front. By comparison, Brazil and Benin each recorded 0.84 percent of GDP on defence in 2025, indicating that Mexico’s current spending level is broadly aligned with peers of similar economic size and regional context. The upward trajectory since the 2006 trough suggests a gradual re‑orientation toward greater security investment, driven by persistent organized‑crime threats and regional geopolitical shifts. Continued economic growth and evolving threat perceptions are likely to shape future allocations, with the prospect that Mexico’s defence share could edge higher if fiscal capacity expands and security demands intensify.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.90% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.86% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.83% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.83% | −0.06% | #122 |
| 2024 | 0.89% | +0.23% | #29 |
| 2023 | 0.66% | −0.03% | #18 |
| 2022 | 0.69% | +0.03% | #23 |
| 2021 | 0.66% | −0.06% | #18 |
| 2020 | 0.72% | +0.21% | #18 |
| 2019 | 0.51% | +0.04% | #14 |
| 2018 | 0.46% | +0.04% | #10 |
| 2017 | 0.42% | −0.06% | #9 |
| 2016 | 0.48% | +0.03% | #12 |
| 2015 | 0.45% | −0.04% | #9 |
| 2014 | 0.50% | +0.01% | #13 |
| 2013 | 0.49% | +0.03% | #12 |
| 2012 | 0.46% | +0.01% | #5 |
| 2011 | 0.45% | +0.01% | #7 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mexico matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1999. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
The provided news headlines focus on the US defense industry, US domestic defense budget discussions, US legal matters, and US-China relations. They do not contain specific information or developments directly related to Mexico's military spending, which currently stands at 0.83% of its GDP. Therefore, these headlines offer no direct insight into changes or influences on Mexico's defense expenditures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mexico's military spending was 0.83% in 2025. Ranked 122nd globally. This represents a 7.2% decrease from the previous year.
Mexico's military spending peaked at 0.89% in 2024.
The lowest military spending in Mexico was 0.30% in 2006.
Mexico ranks 122nd globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Mexico's military spending is projected to reach 0.83% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Mexico in 2025 was 0.83%. This ranks 122nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mexico_military-spending,
title = {Mexico Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mexico/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}