Qatar Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Qatar's military spending was 7.70% in 2025, ranked 4th globally. This represents a 18.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Qatar's military spending stood at 7.70% in 2025, a rise of +1.19% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 7.70% by 2025. Qatar ranked 4th globally.
Qatar's military spending has exhibited significant fluctuations over the past two and a half decades. At 7.70% of its GDP in 2025, Qatar ranks fourth globally in terms of military expenditure as a percentage of GDP. This percentage is a far cry from the all-time peak of 24.85% witnessed in 1985, which was also a time when the country was embroiled in the Cold War and Middle Eastern regional conflicts. Conversely, Qatar's military spending hit an all-time trough of 1.47% in 2010, reflecting a shift in regional security dynamics and the country's focus on economic development. Comparatively, Qatar's military spending ratio is higher than that of Saudi Arabia, another major regional player, which stood at 6.52% in 2025. A continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East could potentially alter Qatar's trajectory of military spending, pushing it back towards its peak levels.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 7.70% | - | - |
| 2025 | 7.70% | +1.19% | #4 |
| 2022 | 6.50% | +0.05% | #149 |
| 2021 | 6.45% | +4.98% | #149 |
| 2010 | 1.47% | −0.52% | #73 |
| 2009 | 1.99% | −0.02% | #98 |
| 2008 | 2.01% | +0.05% | #101 |
| 2007 | 1.96% | +0.21% | #94 |
| 2006 | 1.75% | −0.24% | #86 |
| 2005 | 1.99% | −0.44% | #99 |
| 2004 | 2.43% | −0.90% | #109 |
| 2003 | 3.33% | −0.60% | #126 |
| 2002 | 3.93% | −9.08% | #128 |
| 1991 | 13.01% | +2.27% | #116 |
| 1990 | 10.74% | −2.33% | #111 |
| 1989 | 13.08% | −3.19% | #112 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Qatar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Qatar's military spending was 7.70% in 2025. Ranked 4th globally. This represents a 18.4% increase from the previous year.
Qatar's military spending peaked at 24.85% in 1985.
The lowest military spending in Qatar was 1.47% in 2010.
Qatar ranks 4th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Qatar's military spending is projected to reach 7.70% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Qatar in 2025 was 7.70%. This ranks 4th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_qatar_military-spending,
title = {Qatar Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/qatar/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}