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Nigeria Military Spending

Military expenditure as % of GDP  MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS

0.64% +0.09% (+15.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #133 Global Peak 10.32% (1969) Source World Bank

Nigeria Military Spending (1960–2025)

Overview

Nigeria's military spending stood at 0.64% in 2025, a rise of +0.09% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.64% by 2025. Nigeria ranked 133rd globally.

Data & projection

Year Military Spending YoY change Rank
2027* trend 0.58% - -
2026* trend 0.61% - -
2025* trend 0.64% - -
2025 0.64% +0.09% #133
2024 0.56% −0.29% #12
2023 0.84% +0.19% #28
2022 0.65% −0.36% #18
2021 1.01% +0.38% #39
2020 0.63% +0.17% #15
2019 0.46% −0.05% #11
2018 0.51% +0.08% #14
2017 0.43% −0.00% #10
2016 0.43% +0.02% #8
2015 0.42% +0.00% #8
2014 0.41% −0.05% #5
2013 0.47% −0.03% #8
2012 0.50% −0.07% #7
2011 0.58% +0.04% #17
Show all years (1960-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +20.5% GDP growth 4.1% C/A balance 6.8%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Nigeria 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

What is Nigeria's military spending?

Nigeria's military spending was 0.64% in 2025. Ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 15.5% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest military spending in Nigeria?

Nigeria's military spending peaked at 10.32% in 1969.

What was the lowest military spending in Nigeria?

The lowest military spending in Nigeria was 0.35% in 2006.

How does Nigeria rank in military spending?

Nigeria ranks 133rd globally in military spending as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for military spending?

The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected military spending of Nigeria in 2025?

Nigeria's military spending is projected to reach 0.64% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the military spending of Nigeria in 2025?

The military spending of Nigeria in 2025 was 0.64%. This ranks 133rd in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Nigeria Military Spending. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/nigeria/military-spending
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_military-spending, title = {Nigeria Military Spending}, url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/military-spending}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }