Montenegro Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Montenegro's military spending was 1.69% in 2025, ranked 71st globally. This represents a 7.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2005–2025.
Overview
Montenegro's military spending stood at 1.69% in 2025, a decline of +0.14% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.69% by 2025. Montenegro ranked 71st globally.
Montenegro’s military expenditure has fallen steadily since the 2005 peak of 2.69 % of GDP, reaching a trough of 1.33 % in 2019 before a modest rebound to 1.69 % in 2025, ranking it 71st globally. This downward trajectory mirrors a broader regional pattern in which neighboring Georgia and Croatia maintain slightly higher shares at 1.77 % and Türkiye at 1.67 % of GDP, suggesting that Montenegro’s defence budget remains comparatively modest within the Balkans. The decline from the early‑2000s reflects a combination of fiscal consolidation and reduced perceived external threats after Montenegro’s NATO accession in 2017, while the recent uptick may be linked to heightened security concerns in the Black Sea area and the need to modernise ageing equipment. If fiscal pressures ease and regional security dynamics stabilise, Montenegro could maintain its current level or even modestly increase spending, but a resurgence of economic constraints would likely push the share back toward the 2019 trough.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.72% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.70% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.69% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.69% | −0.14% | #71 |
| 2024 | 1.83% | +0.31% | #78 |
| 2023 | 1.52% | −0.05% | #73 |
| 2022 | 1.57% | +0.02% | #84 |
| 2021 | 1.56% | −0.18% | #83 |
| 2020 | 1.74% | +0.40% | #86 |
| 2019 | 1.33% | −0.03% | #70 |
| 2018 | 1.37% | +0.01% | #77 |
| 2017 | 1.36% | −0.05% | #76 |
| 2016 | 1.41% | +0.01% | #77 |
| 2015 | 1.40% | −0.07% | #82 |
| 2014 | 1.47% | +0.02% | #85 |
| 2013 | 1.45% | −0.20% | #84 |
| 2012 | 1.66% | −0.09% | #94 |
| 2011 | 1.75% | −0.07% | #95 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Montenegro 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
Montenegro's military spending was 1.69% in 2025. Ranked 71st globally. This represents a 7.8% decrease from the previous year.
Montenegro's military spending peaked at 2.69% in 2005.
The lowest military spending in Montenegro was 1.33% in 2019.
Montenegro ranks 71st globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Montenegro's military spending is projected to reach 1.69% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Montenegro in 2025 was 1.69%. This ranks 71st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_montenegro_military-spending,
title = {Montenegro Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/montenegro/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}