Oman Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Oman's military spending was 4.42% in 2025, ranked 13th globally. This represents a 21.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1971–2025.
Overview
Oman's military spending stood at 4.42% in 2025, a decline of +1.18% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 4.42% by 2025. Oman ranked 13th globally.
Oman's military spending has fallen dramatically over the 55‑year series, declining from a high of 24.96 in 1975 to a trough of 4.42 in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the World Bank dataset and ranking the nation 13th globally for that year. The early post‑oil boom of the 1970s saw defense outlays surge as the Sultanate invested in modernising its armed forces, but successive reductions since the turn of the millennium have brought spending to less than half of its 2000 level. In 2025 Oman’s per‑capita defence expenditure of 4.42 is comparable to peers such as Azerbaijan (4.62) and Poland (4.27), reflecting a broader regional shift toward fiscal consolidation amid lower oil revenues. The long‑term downward trajectory suggests that any revival in spending would likely require a sustained increase in hydrocarbon earnings or a strategic reassessment of security commitments, otherwise the current low‑spending pattern is expected to persist.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 3.22% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 3.82% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 4.42% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.42% | −1.18% | #13 |
| 2024 | 5.59% | +0.07% | #141 |
| 2023 | 5.53% | +0.26% | #146 |
| 2022 | 5.26% | −1.36% | #147 |
| 2021 | 6.62% | −1.41% | #150 |
| 2020 | 8.03% | +0.59% | #149 |
| 2019 | 7.44% | −0.83% | #149 |
| 2018 | 8.27% | −0.15% | #152 |
| 2017 | 8.41% | −2.15% | #150 |
| 2016 | 10.56% | +0.99% | #151 |
| 2015 | 9.57% | +0.71% | #149 |
| 2014 | 8.86% | −0.89% | #152 |
| 2013 | 9.75% | −0.84% | #153 |
| 2012 | 10.58% | +4.13% | #150 |
| 2011 | 6.45% | +0.80% | #143 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Oman matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2013. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Oman's military spending was 4.42% in 2025. Ranked 13th globally. This represents a 21.0% decrease from the previous year.
Oman's military spending peaked at 24.96% in 1975.
The lowest military spending in Oman was 4.42% in 2025.
Oman ranks 13th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Oman's military spending is projected to reach 4.42% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Oman in 2025 was 4.42%. This ranks 13th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_oman_military-spending,
title = {Oman Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/oman/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}