Myanmar Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Myanmar's military spending was 6.49% in 2025, ranked 7th globally. This represents a 4.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1961–2025.
Overview
Myanmar's military spending stood at 6.49% in 2025, a decline of +0.30% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 6.49% by 2025. Myanmar ranked 7th globally.
Myanmar’s military expenditure has risen modestly yet persistently over the 59‑year series, moving from 6.12 percent of GDP in 1961 to 6.49 percent in 2025, ranking it seventh globally. The highest share was recorded in 1963 at 6.85 percent, while the lowest point occurred in 2002 when spending fell to 1.48 percent, reflecting the post‑Junta fiscal restraint of that era. Compared with peers, Myanmar’s 2025 level slightly trails Saudi Arabia’s 6.52 percent and remains well below the Russian Federation’s 7.25 percent, underscoring a middle‑range position among countries with sizable defence budgets. The gradual upward trajectory since the early‑2000s suggests a consolidation of military priorities, driven by internal security concerns and regional dynamics. Future shifts in civil‑military relations or external security pressures could alter this path, either accelerating spending growth or prompting a reallocation toward non‑defence priorities.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 7.90% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 7.19% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 6.49% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.49% | −0.30% | #7 |
| 2024 | 6.79% | +3.04% | #142 |
| 2023 | 3.75% | −0.42% | #136 |
| 2022 | 4.17% | +0.10% | #141 |
| 2021 | 4.07% | +0.95% | #142 |
| 2020 | 3.12% | +0.93% | #131 |
| 2019 | 2.19% | −0.17% | #117 |
| 2018 | 2.36% | −1.28% | #122 |
| 2017 | 3.64% | −0.45% | #138 |
| 2016 | 4.09% | −0.21% | #139 |
| 2015 | 4.30% | +0.51% | #138 |
| 2014 | 3.79% | −0.33% | #137 |
| 2013 | 4.12% | −0.01% | #140 |
| 2012 | 4.12% | +2.46% | #141 |
| 2005 | 1.67% | −0.25% | #81 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Myanmar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2009. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Myanmar's military spending was 6.49% in 2025. Ranked 7th globally. This represents a 4.5% decrease from the previous year.
Myanmar's military spending peaked at 6.85% in 1963.
The lowest military spending in Myanmar was 1.48% in 2002.
Myanmar ranks 7th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Myanmar's military spending is projected to reach 6.49% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Myanmar in 2025 was 6.49%. This ranks 7th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_myanmar_military-spending,
title = {Myanmar Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/myanmar/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}