Nigeria Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Nigeria's military spending was 0.64% in 2025, ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 15.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 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.
Nigeria’s military outlays have remained modest in recent years, standing at 0.64 percent of GDP in 2025, which ties it with Moldova for the same share and places it just above South Africa’s 0.63 percent (World Bank). This level is far below the all‑time peak of 10.32 percent recorded in 1969, a post‑civil‑war surge that reflected extensive internal security operations. The lowest share occurred in 2006, when spending fell to 0.35 percent of GDP, marking the trough of a long‑term decline that began in the early 2000s as the country shifted fiscal emphasis toward infrastructure and social programmes. Over the 66‑year coverage period, the share has hovered around the mid‑0.5 percent range, indicating a relatively stable but low‑intensity defence posture compared with peers such as Argentina (0.65 percent). Continued economic diversification and a stable security environment could keep the ratio near current levels, whereas renewed internal threats or regional conflicts would likely push the trajectory upward.
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 |
Detected Pattern
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
Nigeria's military spending was 0.64% in 2025. Ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 15.5% increase from the previous year.
Nigeria's military spending peaked at 10.32% in 1969.
The lowest military spending in Nigeria was 0.35% in 2006.
Nigeria ranks 133rd globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's military spending is projected to reach 0.64% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Nigeria in 2025 was 0.64%. This ranks 133rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_military-spending,
title = {Nigeria Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}